It was also mentioned that it was also the iron foundry, and what that contained and may have contaminated the steel with, that also may have given the steel some unknown, mysterious aspect.

Swedish ore may have been used in a number of instances as mentioned, but it is the artisan, the heat treatment, and the foundry itself that all contributed to make Sheffield steel what it is. To recreate all those factors is essentially what you'd need to replicate in order to return to even a semblance of the original Sheffield steel.

I was exchanging some PM's with another member, and mentioned one of the aspects that have really held me back from pursuing the custom route is when I tried a few customs, now my opinion only, I always felt the razor felt like a wrench that had been turned into a razor. I never liked the feel of the steel....