Modern 'wootz' going into commercial production.

Richard Furrer · 28th July 2011, 10:49 PM

As someone who makes both wootz and shear steel I can say a few things.

Could be alloy banding..a lot of that going on and some modern steels allow this effect to occur rather easily. I have seen this in 1050, 52100,1095, 5160, Modern S,D,H,W and T series tool steels and can be done with difficult with others.

Regardless of what pattern is on the surface the real key is two fold..is the pattern the result of carbides and what is the initial manufacturing process? This is dependent upon carbon levels and how the steel is thermally processed before and during forging and if it is done in a crucible or not. I also believe the argument that modern steels are melted in a crucible to be miss-leading.

Wootz on a mass produced modern Chinese sword?...let me think about that for a few years or more and I'll give you my opinion on that.

Ric

28th July 2011, 10:49 PM	#12
Richard Furrer Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin Posts: 163	As someone who makes both wootz and shear steel I can say a few things. Could be alloy banding..a lot of that going on and some modern steels allow this effect to occur rather easily. I have seen this in 1050, 52100,1095, 5160, Modern S,D,H,W and T series tool steels and can be done with difficult with others. Regardless of what pattern is on the surface the real key is two fold..is the pattern the result of carbides and what is the initial manufacturing process? This is dependent upon carbon levels and how the steel is thermally processed before and during forging and if it is done in a crucible or not. I also believe the argument that modern steels are melted in a crucible to be miss-leading. Wootz on a mass produced modern Chinese sword?...let me think about that for a few years or more and I'll give you my opinion on that. Ric