Stainless Steel and genuine Ethnographic weapons.

[Andrew]

Originally Posted by Rich

IF Masamune blades had any chromium (which I doubt since the forging
of a Japanese sword is designed to remove impurities from the steel), it
would have been microscopic amounts and purely by accident since chromium
wasn't even known as an element or pure metal when Masamune worked.
Certainly not enough to give any "stainless" properties to his swords. Known
Masamune swords rust and have been repolished just like any other
Japanese sword.

Rich S
The Japanese Sword Index
http://www.geocities.com/alchemyst/nihonto.htm

I had a feeling we'd be hearing from you on that one.