Koumya blade

[Ascalon]

Hi,

I've never seen a Koumya's blade with this curious steel.
Any information you have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Emmanuel

http://i84.servimg.com/u/f84/11/44/08/82/lame_h10.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=195&u=11440882)

http://i84.servimg.com/u/f84/11/44/08/82/lame_h11.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=196&u=11440882)

http://i84.servimg.com/u/f84/11/44/08/82/lame_p10.jpg (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=197&u=11440882)

[Emanuel]

Shear steel comes to mind, this certainly shows the blistered look. European blade - British? perhaps - if this is the case.

Regards,
Emanuel

[Mauro]

I have seen a blade with a similar grain in a Lobala knife. I also did not know what was the source for this grain. I am a geologist and I supposed that it could come for melting of nodules of iron oxides but I am not an expert in melting techniques and it is possible that after melting the nodules are no more visible. Iron nodules produced by weathering in a soil that is seasonally saturated with water are quite common everywhere and in my opinion they could have been a source of iron in countries where iron was not so easy to find. Unfortunately my Lobala knife is actualy buried in packs because of a change of house. When I shall get it again I'll try to send a photo
best regards
Mauro

[paolo]

I posted time ago a thread " What kind of iron ? " with pics of my kudi tranchang (look for the treat in search under kudi tranchang) that has a similar pattern. Kai so answered : I suspect that this pattern developed from heat treatment of monosteel (this usually happens by chance).
I hope it helps you.
Paolo

[Gavin Nugent]

I suspect that this pattern developed from heat treatment of monosteel (this usually happens by chance).
I hope it helps you.
Paolo

I'd agree, I have found this effect on an old Spanish dagger from Albacete I used to have.

Gav