Get in mah belly, you piece of shit

I’ll admit my knowledge of metallurgy is informed by a background in welding, but it’s my understanding that the colors on that blade can only happen with a large temperature difference between the middle and its ends, likely as a result of the maker using a benzene torch on it for a few minutes. This high heat is going to do the same thing to the blade as it does during welding: it fucks up the temper. Heat treating is more than just making the metal hot; you have to make it uniformely hot, for a specific amount of time, and then cool it gradually and under control. Doing that doesn’t give you the pretty colors, but it does give you stronger metal.

Heat affected zone on that sword is fucking ridiculous. Sure, you made it harder, but it’ll shatter more easily, too.

Precisely this. The people not getting the OP are why Common Core was developed.