Crucible Damascus vs. Pattern Welded: which is superior?

FenrisWolf · 28th January 2007, 11:01 PM

Just curious, with the discussions of different types of Damascus steel one encounters, which was preferred by the ones to whom it really mattered, the fighters? Which is preferred by collectors? And is there an easy way to tell them apart? Is there a difference that is readily apparent to the naked eye, or is it something that only a mellaurgical examination could determine?

RhysMichael · 28th January 2007, 11:53 PM

Crucible steel is sometimes called "true damascus" "wootz" "palud" and pattern welded sometimes is called mechanical damascus. If the blade is etched the patterns are easy to see and tell the difference from. Some unetched blades that are reported to be wootz I do not see patterns in particularly in pictures. I think they both have appeal I would love to have a kris with mechanical damascus center, or a twist core doa, I would also like to have a wootz persian blade. So personally I think the skill of the maker and how well the blade was heat treated is more important than if it is mechanical or true damascus. But, there are many here who know more on this than I do and I look forward to their responses

you may want to look here http://www.vikingsword.com/ethsword/patterns.html

Emanuel · 29th January 2007, 12:32 AM

Hi Fenris,
You missed the long True Combat Value of Wootz thread. Have a look.

Emanuel

28th January 2007, 11:01 PM	#1
FenrisWolf Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 181	Crucible Damascus vs. Pattern Welded: which is superior? Just curious, with the discussions of different types of Damascus steel one encounters, which was preferred by the ones to whom it really mattered, the fighters? Which is preferred by collectors? And is there an easy way to tell them apart? Is there a difference that is readily apparent to the naked eye, or is it something that only a mellaurgical examination could determine?

28th January 2007, 11:53 PM	#2
RhysMichael Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 520	Crucible steel is sometimes called "true damascus" "wootz" "palud" and pattern welded sometimes is called mechanical damascus. If the blade is etched the patterns are easy to see and tell the difference from. Some unetched blades that are reported to be wootz I do not see patterns in particularly in pictures. I think they both have appeal I would love to have a kris with mechanical damascus center, or a twist core doa, I would also like to have a wootz persian blade. So personally I think the skill of the maker and how well the blade was heat treated is more important than if it is mechanical or true damascus. But, there are many here who know more on this than I do and I look forward to their responses you may want to look here http://www.vikingsword.com/ethsword/patterns.html

29th January 2007, 12:32 AM	#3
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hi Fenris, You missed the long True Combat Value of Wootz thread. Have a look. Emanuel