A forged blade has the advantage of more refinement of the grain lines as it is
reduced ( especially toward the edge), and well as reducing any impurities to
smaller size.
The main gain in a forged blade is the flow of the grain. In
a forged blade, the grain follows the edge direction. This is especially
significant on a long and curved sword. The tang has the grain aligned, no
matter how it is curved.
Imagine a shelf bracket forged to 90 degrees. The
grain follows the bend, and has full strength in all directions. Now If a book shelf
bracket was ground out of a huge block of steel ( ignore the obvious waste), the
grain would be at 90 degrees to itself on the two arms. This would make the apex
and one arm weaker on the ground bracket.
reduced ( especially toward the edge), and well as reducing any impurities to
smaller size.
The main gain in a forged blade is the flow of the grain. In
a forged blade, the grain follows the edge direction. This is especially
significant on a long and curved sword. The tang has the grain aligned, no
matter how it is curved.
Imagine a shelf bracket forged to 90 degrees. The
grain follows the bend, and has full strength in all directions. Now If a book shelf
bracket was ground out of a huge block of steel ( ignore the obvious waste), the
grain would be at 90 degrees to itself on the two arms. This would make the apex
and one arm weaker on the ground bracket.