<<Oh, yeah, the edge of the cutting side has a sine wave kinda thing that is
just a slightly different shade of shiny and whiter.>>

That is the temper line.  A katana is  traditionally made with a very hard
steel spine, slightly softer middle, and again slightly softer outer metal
as you go from the blade to the blunt edge.  This  is so the blade itself is
hard and stays sharp, but the softer steel helps it to sustain impacts, and
impacts from the side; shock absorption so it does not shatter.  The temper
line will be difficult; and in order to do the handle, hilt, and butt-cap
correctly and artistically with some ornateness will be quite a task.  But
we shall see how things go.


--


Mike Metheny
lon### [at] vtedu
mik### [at] loneshepherdcom
http://www.loneshepherd.com/

"When one's words are no better than silence, one should keep silent."

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