[texas booster]

Your site reminded me of some great discussions on swordsmithy and steel.

Secret's Out For Saracens Sabres (Damascus Steel)

A Brief History of Steel

Forging perfection:A look at a modern Japanese Master Sowrdsmith (longish read but GREAT photos)

Sharpest cut from nanotube sword-Carbon nanotech may have given swords of Damascus their edge

The Samurai And The Ainu (Read This Before Seeing The Movie "The Last Samurai")

[Yardstick]

That brief history of steel link is fantastic — just the right length and amount of detail.

[colorado tanker]

Hattori Hanzo: Who is he, may I ask?
The Bride: Hattori Hanzo.
Hattori Hanzo: [Serious, switches to Japanese] What do you want with Hattori Hanzo?
The Bride: [Japanese] I need Japanese steel.
Hattori Hanzo: [Japanese] Why do you need Japanese steel?
The Bride: [Japanese] I have vermin to kill.
Hattori Hanzo: [English] You must have big rats if you need Hattori Hanzo's steel.
The Bride: [English] ... Huge.