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Oh and, trialnerra - I think this hint has been dropped before, but re the 5/9: what are you solving? (9 letters)

@rogissimo: So if I say I now feel a 5/5 am I getting warm?

I daresay the double word has been used before for 18d but I only knew it as one word.

But there we go. All done.

I don't mind Paul at his best. Some definitions in this that required a bit of thought such as 2d but that's what makes a good puzzle. I think 13d would be my COD.

like, left under the tree or something...?

@Rocky7 congrats. Still got 15a to go - I think.

OK all done. Paul clearly an acquired taste which I have yet to acquire. Liked 23a most, as - alerted by the theme - I'd been on the lookout for one particular component. Sadly, I didn't see my personal favourites in that sphere.

Hmmm not sure, trialnerra. You need to use 5 of a 9.

rocky7 - have you compared Paul’s 13dn with Brendan’s 13dn in Friday’s cryptic?
Coincidence or collaboration? I like to think the latter.

Rogissimo. I hadn't done Friday's puzzle but that’s interesting. Can't be coincidental surely.

I think it can be both. If you consider steel is a sword, then it is also a specialised (esoteric) name for a sword. Same applies to 25 across and all the others.

Sorry but by now everyone must have got this and tired of avoiding the words.