Hi Chris,
Many thanks for your explanation. I had simply understood austenite to mean a high-grain crystal structure, as per Carlo's informative pictures. I understand my mistake now. I also found this good site
http://www.metal-mart.com/Dictionary/dictlist.htm with quick definitions for metallurgical terms.
So temperature control is more or less the whole secret to good forging, correct? Now, would an European smith with comparable levels of knowledge and experience to a top Indian/Persian smith be able to create wootz/pulad ingots and forge a watered blade from European iron ore? Or is the precise mix of iron/carbon of Indian ore important? Gt.Obach, is your home-forged wootz chemically the same as the traditional Indian ingots?
Carlo, besides splitting kindling with an axe and cutting bread, it's true I've never cut anything
Some training would indeed be recommended.
Regards,
Emanuel