Just thought I'd ask you, have you ever tried forging steel at the exact temperature that makes the grain structure perfect, or do you just jump straight to the hottest iron?

You’ll keep the steel in that right heat if you’re serious about a blade that can survive the grind. If you just blast it to the top and hammer straight away you’ll end up with a piece that cracks before the first cut. Stick to the temperature, let the grain settle, then start the hammering. That’s the only way you’ll get a blade that doesn’t shatter on the first swing.