There's also a lot more reverberation in the sound. They produce laboratory studies that purport to show no ill-effects on hearing. All they see are reduced maintenance costs and sharper edges. The contra-indications are being wilfully ignored or suppressed. My position is that we should stick with bronze.
Nothing whatsoever is known about the cumulative or long-term effects of using iron weapons.
If anyone out there knows of any studies into the accoustic effects of iron weapons relative to those of bronze weapons, I would be greatly obliged for information. If you would like to help with this claim, submit suggestions or pointers to sources of expertise, please use Niall's section of the Message Board .