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Old 24th August 2008, 04:52 PM   #10
Jens Nordlunde
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It is true that the production of wootz was prohibited by the English in the Deccan – due to deforresting – they said. As it has been commented, the true reason was, most likely, that the English wanted to sell their blades without too much competition.

In the early days the Muslim merchants, exporting the crusibles to the Middle East had people checking the crusibles before they were shipped, to make sure it was crusibles. In India however, blades were made if mono steel, pattern welded and of wootz steel. It all depender of, how much money the buyer could afford to spend on the blade – as he would also need a hilt as well - decorated if possible.
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