INFI v. "Ninja" swords

[Lycosa]

I cud be wrong but that steel looks a lot like INFI.
Where's Jerry?
Repetition can be a dangerous thing.
Thanks, Dennis.

 

[BlackKnight86]

http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-lost-technologies.php

I can't verify all the claims on this site, but its a good example of how certain skills, methods and materials are lost with time. Coincidentally, they mention the Stradivari Violins on this page as well.

Rhetorical question: how is the sound quality of those violins measured, and by what standard are they "not reproducible"?

Also, methodologies and materials are two different things. The skills associated with folding steel were originally done, at least in part, to make lesser quality steel better....is that not true? If true, would that be an issue with modern methods of steel-making?

We've been using steel for centuries, and we've been asking that steel to endure progressively higher forces as those centuries have progressed. The idea that we've "lost" anything regarding how to make good steel doesn't make sense.

We've also been cutting things with steel for centuries. Granted, we no longer have hand-to-hand combat as a primary purpose for blade steel; but we still have knowledge of what different forging techniques do to steel and how different materials mixed in will affect steel and its properties. And while specific instruments such as swords are no longer in common use, we still do use a wide range of shorter working blades. So the idea that we've lost anything in terms of how to make a blade that will cut a particular medium, or how a certain size and weight distribution of blade will perform in the hands of a particular individual, seems counterintuitive.....

....except in one area; and that is in the specific technical knowledge (which is always going to be perishable) of how to hand-forge steel for the general performance of a long blade in battle. That makes sense; however, it's important to remember two things: 1) that's not a materials issue; so all other things being equal, newer will always be better; and 2) even if the forging technique is not "better", there will be a significant compensatory effect in the other areas.

My thought is that, given the quality of the materials and the knowledge base, while lesser due to a drastic reduction in practical experience, being still quite vast due to historical/hobby interest; the higher end swords made today are every bit the equal if not better than anything made in the past.