[Emanuel]

Hello,

A thought about iron/steel in the Indian context.

We use the terms "wootz" and "pulad/bulat" to refer to crystalline crucible steel produced in India and Central Asia. Ann Feuerbach has outlined the difference between the South Indian crucible steel tradition, and the Central Asian one.

Then we know the Hindi words for iron is
लौह "lauha" or लोहा "loha", the root for the word "lohar" - blacksmith.

We know the Sanskrit word for steel
फौलाद "phaulada/faulada"
and the Hindi adjective
फ़ौलादी "steely".

What do we know about blades showing pattern welding? Are there documented terms for it? In the older pieces we basically have bladesmithing done through forge-welding of different bars of iron with different carbon content in a carburizing or reducing fire. The carbon migrates throughout and forms a more homogeneous whole with relatively higher carbon content.


In the literature/primary sources, are pattern welded blades still referred to as fauladi, or are other terms with qualifiers for "loha"?

Emanuel