How could Laban have possessed a sword of most precious steel?

Nephi’s reference to a steel sword was long considered anachronistic because it was believed that steel did not exist until later times. Subsequent archaeological discoveries have now shown that ancient Near Eastern metallurgists were making steel centuries before Nephi’s day. These include steel tool, axes, knife blades, and weapons of carburized iron that had been hardened into steel. Such weapons include steel swords found in the land of Israel dating to Lehi’s day.