Regarding the term "hollow" that Jim mentions, I had come across a reference to that while doing some research of something else. The following, a post over tp myArmoury but I may have mentioned my finds elsewhere.
http://www.myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=5468
While doing yet more work with German cutlers moving to England, what Howy (Albion swords) mentions makes a good bit of sense and maybe the term some may be looking for in better (universally?) describing the cross-section can be found in looking at German/Prussian cutlery terminology.
The text of those findings pasted here
From 1704
Sword-blade Company, Bill.
The Earl of Stamford reported from the Lords Committees, the Bill, intituled, "An Act to discharge the Governor and Company for making hollow Sword Blades in England, of the Sum of Eighteen Thousand Eight Hundred Sixty-four Pounds Seven Shillings, One Penny Half-penny, by Mistake overcharged in the Purchase-money for several forfeited and other Estates and Interests in Ireland, purchased by them," as fit to pass, without any Amendment.
Then in 1708
An Act for limiting a Time for Persons to come in and make their Claims to any of the forfeited Estates, and other Interests in Ireland, sold by the Trustees for Sale of those Estates to the Governor and Company for making hollow Sword-blades in England, and divers other Purchasers.
There is quite a lot of information out there in simple searches for the
Hollow Sword Blades Company but I had first encountered it in searches at the
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/ A worthwhile venue to register for, as you can cookie/shelf articles you arew reading/searching/researching.
This quickly if of interest and the town being set up in control by the company. No doubt some of the legal issues that followed were sprung from that.
http://www.northantrim.com/aboutcushendall.htm
Cheers
GC
P.S.
The original search string query there might still work.
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/res...w+sword+blades
nope but there's lot on that site and now generally on the net at large