Great additions to the thread guys. Jens, I love the Pata. Does the wootz appear to be a "veneer" applied over the top of a core steel guantlet? In discussions with Philip who polishes a lot of wootz, he has found that objects like armor, shields, flasks tend to have a veneer of wootz versus the entire object being forged of wootz. From your picture, I can see a couple of spots where maybe that veneer has worn away revealing the core steel. I imagine this is a great forging accomplishment and a testiment to the smiths skill.

I have had another look at the gauntlet, and it is made of 'solid' wootz.

WOOTZ.
 

Salaams,
I dont have much in the way of watered steel blades but I am very interested in knowing the workshop technique for bringing up cleaning and restoring old wootz blades. What is the method for doing this and what does the term "bringing into polish" entail? I have two ancient Omani Blades which could be wootz and I would like to give one a try with whatever technique is suggested. Any ideas? :shrug:

Regards Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

My workshops use hand tools only and are experienced in the old fashioned skills of hilt and blade work up to Koftgari etc ~ Wootz we don't know much about. We learn fast however ! :shrug: