Howdy Jim et Chevaliere,
I understand the Arabs were able to develop such nice blades in Spain because they took advantage ot the renowned and world acclaimed metallurgical arts that had been developed by Celts and Iberians.
Remember how the romans adopted the celtic spata and turned it into their gladivs hispaniensis?. Also the spanish falcata, a local version of the greek kopis used in both the carthaginian and greek colonies in Spain, was the terror of the legionaries. In fact, spanish mercenaries serving in the roman armies kept on using them when they were taken to conquer England.
The arabs were great at developing and adapting for their own use the ideas and techniques they found in their road to conquest, but not terribly original otherwise.
Regards
M
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