Good question.
San mai is an inserted edge. Basically, a hardened piece is inserted between two softer pieces to create a tougher cutting edge. A laminated blade usually refers to the blade having been made by heating and folding the steel and pounding it out, then folding again, etc. Using different metal layers can create striking patterns, so it is sometimes called "pattern welded." This differs from "wootz" in which the pattern results from crystallization of its components after iron and various additives are heated in a crucible to make the steel.
Both laminated and wootz blades can have hardened edges produced by differential heating of the edge to alter the crystalline structure.
That's my completely lay explanation. We have expert metallurgists here who can give you way, way more details and there are several essays on wootz and steel-making techniques elsewhere on this web site. For example, see
here for Lee's discussion of pattern welding and
here for Ann's discussion of wootz (pulad) blades and techniques.
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Originally Posted by Rafngard
One question. How does an "inserted edge" differ from "San Mai" blade construction, or a "laminated" blade?
Thanks,
Leif
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