History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c13.s4.40

v1.c13.s4.40

As Paisowski (1974) and others have mentioned Belaiew (1921) had the privilege of studying four such blades, and later on others have been quoting his results because even those four swords have been lost. According to the available description the watering pattern on the Damascus sword was developed by etching the surface with a solution containing vitriol, vinegar and many other chemicals, known to the sword manufacturers. After polishing and etching the surface of the sword it was washed, polished and smeared with oil. The study of the watering pattern has shown a structure of dark etching Cementite or Pearlite phase present in a matrix of Ferrite. The heat treatment of pattern welded swords have no doubt produced a variety of etched black and white pattern but they have failed to duplicate the original Damascusing pattern developed on swords made from ‘Wootz’ steel. Recently an International Conference ‘The Craft of the Blacksmiths’ had been organised at Belfast in 1989 and the proceedings edited by Scott and Cleere (1989). At this Conference the archaeometallurgical studies and the experiments conducted on pattern welded steel swords and their heat- treatment has been discussed in great detail.