OK Jens, as penance I did some more looking into wootz and found all the information on the 'strength' of the steel, so that was interesting. It is noted however, that the process must be carefully completed to avoid the creation of cementatite and a hopelessly fragile blade.
Naturally, this same result might occur in any type of forging, so I cant be sure where my thoughts came from.
Did we ever figure why the term, tears of afflicted or wounded?
The slots: perhaps to lighten the blade, much as with fullers? and of course for the balls as applicable.
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