Truly beautiful work, JPH.
It's just the lure of exotic, far-away places that makes them think that the Japanese sword is better...LOL...actually, it did have three things going for it - design, construction and techniques of use. This is not to denigrate the European blades but they weren't still being used in WW2 so the "aura" is more recent. They also treated the sword in a religious manner so a multitude of signed blades exist from the 15th century and beyond. How many European swordsmiths are still recognized by name even among collectors? I'm sure some are known but their Japanese counterparts are treated as saints.
I agree that the European blades were easily the equal of the Japanese - and the Persians - although methods of manufacture and fighting styles were so much different.
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