Metallurgy - not as advanced as it used to be?

[Otto Puzzell]

Before atom bombs and chemical warfare, before jet fighters and tanks, even before guns and cannons, people fought with swords. Swords were one of the main weapons of war for centuries. And for that reason, good strong swords were highly valued. A dependable sword could save your life. What would happen if your sword broke in the middle of a fight? Or if it wasn't sharp enough? You'd probably end up dead. So good swords were highly prized. And just like there are certain types of cars that are known to be very fast (and even brands of sneakers that are supposed to give you an edge), there was one kind of sword that everyone wanted. It was made in Damascus, a city in Syria, and so was called a Damascus sword. Western Europeans first saw these swords in the hands of Muslim warriors a thousand years ago. Today you can see examples of Damascus swords hanging in the arms and armor sections of most large museums.

Read the rest here:

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+Mystery+of+the+Damascus+Sword-a01611003676