Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Atlantia
Brilliant teamwork gentlemen. The pieces come together and the picture forms.
So is it possible to assign a date to the last manufacture of wootz? Is it possible that the wootz weapons made in the 19thC were made using the last of stockpiled ingots from 150 years earlier? (If wiki for once got something right!)
That would have made for some competition for quality ingots as supplies ran short surely?
|
Hi Gene,
Again, speaking only as speculation, it would seem that it would be pretty tough to assign a date or even example of the last blade of wootz produced. It would depend on which region was being assessed, the quality or grade of wootz used, and even if anyone had dated the blades, it would be hard to find each one to determine which was oldest. The only reference I could find to approximate was that the last high quality blades probably were effectively produced about mid 18th century. It was suggested that some of the lower grade wootz probably lasted into the 19th century.
In my opinion, since available trade blades, as well as Indian smiths learning to use European smelting methods and steel increased, while the significant ore deposits depleted, the making of wootz trailed off. It would seem that armourers to the courts probably still produced attractive courtly weapons and as these venerable subjects died out, so did the process. Even if they had tried to pass on thier secrets, not being metallurgists, they could not have known that even following steps intricately was to no avail if the inherent impurities in the ore used were absent.
It does seem that the abundance of these wootz steel 'cakes' would have gradually diminished, and it does seem there have been some stockpiles found in armouries somewhere, though there have been concerns over authenticity in some examples shown. As the skills of the armourers in producing wootz also went away, these ingots became more of a novelty it would seem. Im not sure if using the ingot would produce the desired effect unless forging was accomplished according to old methods.
All the best,
Jim