Tooling for engineering.

[CycloneWanderer]

And that's just metals. There's a huge variety of composites and ceramics needed in industry as well. There's a reason people specialize in and spend years making these things.

 

[KevinKohler]

The process of making iron before the industrial revolution involved beating the iron ore untill the not metal bits were hammer out of it at high temperature. The result was always steel but of very differing quality.

The Japanese swords with their many folded layers which stop the sword shattering so easily are not so special. I have seen a reconstruction of a dark ages Frankish sword which put them to shame with two many folded them spiraled bars welded together with higher carbon steel welded onto the sides of this and then the sword was formed and polished. Magnificent piece of metal work.

They say that Damascus swords were the "best", when factoring hardness for the edg, suppleness to not shatter, and ease of care taking.

 

[Utility Man]

Food for thought....



eace

 

[Tim the plumber]

They say that Damascus swords were the "best", when factoring hardness for the edg, suppleness to not shatter, and ease of care taking.

Yes, but there were examples, earlier in the West that made them look basic and simple.