My apologies Tom....I misunderstood "springy" steel as opposed to "spring steel", which in African, Philippine and Indonesian weapons often means recently made from old automobile springs and very often, highly inferior.
Yes, for the weight and thickness of the spine there is an amazing amount of flexibility to the blade, although it's by no means a lightweight and would require being in very good shape to be used for any but short periods of time.
I think that these were primarily used as horseman's swords, weren't they?
If so, the added weight would have made for a devastating swing and cut when added to the speed of a charging steed that likely would have cut a swath through foot soldiers with ease.
Even on foot, the couple that I've seen were also capable of breaking the blade on a more lightly constructed with comparative ease, likewise all but a heavy spear shaft.
Mike
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