The Japanese used folded steel because the iron-sand they had to work with sucks as a base material, and folding into Tamahagne is the only method they had to get a semi-decent end product. I did want to correct a few technical points you made. That doesn't make them 'better' in any sense of the word, but I think provides a partial explanation for the fascination that many people have with them. The skill and artisty involved - particularly in the hamon (often called a tempering pattern), as well as the various types of hada (the 'grain' of the metal) - show a level of purely aesthetic attention that was often missing in comparable European weapons. Still, the argument can be made that there IS something uniquely interesting about the traditional japanese sword, precisely because the smiths did consider them to be works of art in addition to functional weapons of war. Clearly, it is surpassed by European swords from about the 1600s onwards, in my opinion - in large part because steel technology in Europe became so much better. I am a collector of japanese swords, and (used to be) a practitioner of kendo and iaido - and the japanese sword is just one among many great swords. The kind that declare TEH KATANA IZ BESTEST AND CUTS THROUGH MACHINEGUNS!!!1! as objective truth tend to be the same type that think TEH AK47 IZ TEH BEST RIFLE EVAR!!1!1 because they play CoD or they think they know Jet fighters because they've played alot of flight sims. But most of them are mature enough to know it is one great sword among many great swords, and the only way in which it is 'better' are personal subjective judgments. There are plenty of great American Katana aficionados. As a HEMA/WMA practitioner I get really tired of the whole Katana worship. If you look at some of the other swords Albion makes, there are several that are significantly lighter and even better balanced. They are in line with what you would see on a Katana. The kind that declare TEH KATANA IZ BESTEST AND CUTS THROUGH MACHINEGUNS!!!1! as objective truth tend to be the same type that think TEH AK47 IZ TEH BEST RIFLE EVAR!!1!1 because they play CoD or they think they know Jet fighters because they've played alot of flight sims.Д«TW, if you want a really good Messer, I would look at an Albion Soldat or Knecht.ДЇor those who are interested, look at the CoG and weight on those. IOW, a white guy who is only into Katanas is the like the swordowner equivalent of a whigger.

Knecht kriegsmesser by albion