10-27-2007, 07:00 PM
Perhaps it's good to realise the Romans and the rest around at that time did not have steel at their disposal and even our modern "mild steel" has a good bit more carbon in it then their iron swords.
This also why you have to keep folding a iron blade when trying to forge a high quality sword, you trap the thin carbon/iron layer (=steel) where the iron has picked up the carbon form the charcoal forge fire inside the fold, spreading the surface steel through the iron during the forging proces. A higher carbon blade can be thinner then any old iron and still have enough strength to withstand hitting someone/something with it. It is easier to balance a thinner blade, as the weight of steel versus iron is the same. One can make a very good blade of mild steel bought off the shelf and be acurate to the period. Having just taken up forging, I will certainly try a blade in a year or two (when I have learned the craft!). May your spatha's always swing true
This also why you have to keep folding a iron blade when trying to forge a high quality sword, you trap the thin carbon/iron layer (=steel) where the iron has picked up the carbon form the charcoal forge fire inside the fold, spreading the surface steel through the iron during the forging proces. A higher carbon blade can be thinner then any old iron and still have enough strength to withstand hitting someone/something with it. It is easier to balance a thinner blade, as the weight of steel versus iron is the same. One can make a very good blade of mild steel bought off the shelf and be acurate to the period. Having just taken up forging, I will certainly try a blade in a year or two (when I have learned the craft!). May your spatha's always swing true