Thanks. Federico, that's just what I wanted to know. Still pretty far at sea as to what's going on with the spine of your sword, Rick; my guess is still that there is an applied spine whose internal structure (the stripe) is incidental and of no particular relation to the rest of the blade, but it's crossed out of anything I personally have seen or can readily explain in practical terms without further knowlege (ie sword in hand, 1/2 a cigarette and some good staring, and I could probably tell you A LOT more, and be much more certain about it; it's really hard to work from photos in these matters; much must be guessed at and interpretted.). I don't think Gt Obach's idea that applied edge and spine are the same (butt welded) piece is correct: it seems an uncharacteristic waste of edge steel, but I suppose it's possible. I can't tell from the picture whether there is indeed a central stripe of another alloy on the spine, or whether such is deliberate, or whether it's just a randomish variation in folded grain. I'm not seeing a real distinct stripe; I kinda sorta see one; that could be the photo.......
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