Subject: what are the pro's and con's of the different 'smithable' metal types.

i am writing a book (don't knock it) and i am well versed in the arts of 
combat but i want to touch lightly on the topic of metal types in regards 
to armor and weaponry.
i am unaware (ignorant i suppose) of the different pros and cons of the 
metals commonly used in medevil weapnons.
the ones i can think of off the top of my head are: iron, bronze, steel, 
stainless steel.
i realized that the question is more complicated than it sounds since there 
are different types of each general catagory of metals.
if you could write me an email of relative extense i would be most pleased. 
i was thinking of things along the lines of: hardness, worability, proness 
to rust, flexability, weight, how brittle it might be, how well it holds an 
edge.
i appreciate this, thank you kindly good sirs and madames.

Re: what are the pro's and con's of the different 'smithable' metal types.