Damascus Steel

[RhysMichael]

Originally Posted by PBishop

If pattern welding doesn't produce steel with the same characteristics as possessed by Medieval Arab weapons, how can we tell the difference in a particular piece, and assuming we know the difference how would it affect the piece's value?

You can find both pattern welding and palud/wootz/crucible steel in antique middle eastern ( and other ) weapons. Some good articles on it right here on EEWRS. A search would get you many threads but a good place to start to learn the differences is here
http://www.vikingsword.com/ethsword/patterns.html

Dr Freubach posts here and is one of the true experts on crucible steel she spoke in Timonium last year and I have a couple of articles she gave out there if it would help

There are some very fine pattern welded blades, many that I look at and covet ~lol~ . So I would not rule out either type as a good sword to have

Oh and guess what there are some people making crucible steel today