Thanks to the posters for a technically enlightening thread. That said, as an end user all I personally care about is that the end product has the correct geometry, an excellent grind and is properly heat treated so as to be eminently usable. How it winds up that way I'll leave for the expert makers to worry about and take all claims of which method of production is superior with a grain of salt.

OTH this thread has given me a better appreciation of the effort and skill that goes into making a blade.

Bob