I don't take stuff with an expired date. I just figure the people that make the stuff know more about it then I do so I don't mess around. this is just based off my opinion tho not any facts that I know of.
the only thing I know about blacksmithing is from final fantasy XIV AND i DON'T THINK THAT'S ANYTHING LIKE REAL LIFE. but anyway I could ask my sister she works with metals and also I have read The Jabberwocky many times