Leaving stainless steel aside it is still difficult to compare old and new blades. The new ones are usually made for different purposes. Take for example the "forging flaws" that are almost diagnostic of Tibetan weapons. In modern weapons they would be considered a major defect. However, minor flaws between layers of lamination seem to stop crack formation. I have a Tibetan saber where the lamination and forging flaws have acted like rip-stop preventing several small cracks in the very hard steel at the edge and back from spreading into the body. Also antique Chinese swords can often take a bend rather easily and it is not uncommon to find one that was straightened more than once. Modern blades tend to have harder bodies that don't bend as easily. This is an advantage for cutting practice, but in battle, I suspect a modern sword might break before an antique, while an antique would bend but still be somewhat usable.
What modern technology has come close to perfecting is quality control of the steel itself, making pattern welding a matter of aesthetics rather than necessity.
Josh
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