Hammered bronze is actually quite hard and holds a good edge, but making a
sword that has edges of hammered bronze with a flexible core is propably
even harder than doing the same with steel. (mixing different kinds of
bronze is apparently quite hard)
There's also a very cool thing called silverbronze, that has some silver
where there's usually just tin. It's quite expensive, but it holds a very
keen edge. IMG this is a secret of the Yelornans.
:Obviously I exaggerated a bit, but remember that steelworking took
:millenia to master as well. Steel swordmaking didn't reach its peak
:until feudal Japan. While spear vs. katakana is an obvious choice, spear
:vs. primitive sword is closer to a toss-up.
Personally I don't worship the katana. Good damascus steel compares quite well. The best Viking weapons for instance are really, really good quality steel. But I agree still.
For a long time, changing from bronze to iron meant poorer quality weapons. When the chinise learned the secrets of iron, for hundreads of years the sword of the common soldier was of iron, and the expensive (good) ones vere of bronze. :)
-Adept
I think I think... Therefore I think I am.
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