What sort of steel is this please? (Indian blade)

Atlantia · 28th January 2009, 02:07 PM

Good Evening gentlemen,

I noticed some distinct fine layering in the steel of this Indian blade so gave it a quick lemon juicing and these are the results.

Its a good blade, but can those who know about the various types of layered steel from that area just throw some opinions at me please?

I would appreciate help with understanding exactly what I'm looking at here.

Regards
Gene

RSWORD · 28th January 2009, 09:59 PM

The blade does appear to be wootz but the pattern is a sham style and not the typical tight, crystalline damask found on many Indian blades.

Atlantia · 28th January 2009, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSWORD

The blade does appear to be wootz but the pattern is a sham style and not the typical tight, crystalline damask found on many Indian blades.

Hi RSWORD,

Thanks for the reply.
I thought it looked like wootz but I couldn't identify the pattern or why it was so 'flowing' and even (if that makes any sense?) and began to wonder if I was just being hopeful.

Edit:
AH! 'sham' refers to the flowing semi straight pattern without any swirls etc!
Yes, I looked through some old threads!

Regards
Gene

Philip · 29th January 2009, 07:23 AM

I tend to think that the surface patterning is due to layering, and as such it would be a form of pattern-weld. The effect, which reminds me of pamor or hada, appears to be too continuous to be the crystalline dendrites which are the characteristic of wootz. The eye can follow the lines in the pattern for a distance, whereas the visual impression given by wootz tends to be like flowing water: there is a current but the individual ripples aren't contiguous. Furthermore, in the two pics I see what look like pockets of black carbon which are oriented along the undulating lines. These look like the cold-shuts resulting from imperfect welds which sometimes occur in the production of a pattern-welded or folded-steel lamellar blade.

Atlantia · 29th January 2009, 12:55 PM

HI Phillip,

Thanks for coming in on this.
I had a quick look for 'sham wootz' online last night and noticed some similar discussions about if 'sham' should really even be described as wootz, is that what we're seeing here, or do you think this shouldn't be categorised as sham and is 'just' a finely layered/folded steel?

Regards
Gene

ALEX · 29th January 2009, 07:52 PM

I agree with RSWORD. This is typical sham pattern. Some still debate sham's attribution to wootz, but it has not been officially declared as non-wootz. The inferiority of sham comparing to other more prominent patterns is another topic, but generally speaking - sham wootz is still wootz

Philip · 29th January 2009, 07:59 PM

Gene,
Based on everything I've seen of "sham", it' wootz. As you probably well know, the name "sham" in this case is a Near Eastern term, it doesn't mean "false" or "faux" as we would use it in English.

Even if your blade is not wootz, it shouldn't be a cause of disappointment! There's nothing wrong with pattern welding, layering, lamination, and all that; as we all know a number of cultures East and West did some remarkable things with it and the craft is pursued at a high level even today. Wootz is indeed a marvellous thing (when it's done right, and frankly said there's more indifferent to bad stuff out there than there is the really excellent), but we should not elevate it to the status of a sacred cow. Even in this, the Year of the Ox!

28th January 2009, 02:07 PM	#1
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Antique Indian Blade. Can someone help ID layered steel type? Good Evening gentlemen, I noticed some distinct fine layering in the steel of this Indian blade so gave it a quick lemon juicing and these are the results. Its a good blade, but can those who know about the various types of layered steel from that area just throw some opinions at me please? I would appreciate help with understanding exactly what I'm looking at here. Regards Gene Last edited by Atlantia; 28th January 2009 at 07:26 PM.

29th January 2009, 07:59 PM	#7
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	sham is a type of wootz Gene, Based on everything I've seen of "sham", it' wootz. As you probably well know, the name "sham" in this case is a Near Eastern term, it doesn't mean "false" or "faux" as we would use it in English. Even if your blade is not wootz, it shouldn't be a cause of disappointment! There's nothing wrong with pattern welding, layering, lamination, and all that; as we all know a number of cultures East and West did some remarkable things with it and the craft is pursued at a high level even today. Wootz is indeed a marvellous thing (when it's done right, and frankly said there's more indifferent to bad stuff out there than there is the really excellent), but we should not elevate it to the status of a sacred cow. Even in this, the Year of the Ox!

28th January 2009, 09:59 PM	#2
RSWORD Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 1,083	The blade does appear to be wootz but the pattern is a sham style and not the typical tight, crystalline damask found on many Indian blades.

29th January 2009, 07:23 AM	#4
Philip Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California Posts: 1,036	I tend to think that the surface patterning is due to layering, and as such it would be a form of pattern-weld. The effect, which reminds me of pamor or hada, appears to be too continuous to be the crystalline dendrites which are the characteristic of wootz. The eye can follow the lines in the pattern for a distance, whereas the visual impression given by wootz tends to be like flowing water: there is a current but the individual ripples aren't contiguous. Furthermore, in the two pics I see what look like pockets of black carbon which are oriented along the undulating lines. These look like the cold-shuts resulting from imperfect welds which sometimes occur in the production of a pattern-welded or folded-steel lamellar blade.

29th January 2009, 12:55 PM	#5
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	HI Phillip, Thanks for coming in on this. I had a quick look for 'sham wootz' online last night and noticed some similar discussions about if 'sham' should really even be described as wootz, is that what we're seeing here, or do you think this shouldn't be categorised as sham and is 'just' a finely layered/folded steel? Regards Gene

29th January 2009, 07:52 PM	#6
ALEX Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 936	I agree with RSWORD. This is typical sham pattern. Some still debate sham's attribution to wootz, but it has not been officially declared as non-wootz. The inferiority of sham comparing to other more prominent patterns is another topic, but generally speaking - sham wootz is still wootz