Normally I do not get involved in such things, and prefer to just look at the pretty pictures and dream of the things that I wish were mine
, BUT......
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Originally Posted by RSWORD
It is very difficult to tell from the pictures but I think Ian is right on the money in that this is some unusual crystallization from the heat treatment of the blade. Sometimes old pieces of metal that would be used for making blades, ie very old railroad track, from the years of use when forged out would have an unusually high amount of carbon......but rather the railroad rails which due to age and heavy wear created a high carbon steel. What is wootz steel. A high carbon steel....many smiths over the years adding old, well used horse shoes and handmade nails to their forging process which in effect increased the carbon content in the finished product.
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Unfortunately, this is not how it works. The carbon content of steel does not increase due to workhardening or wear, even with something as big and heavy as a locomotive beating on it. Also, most old horse shoes were made of wrought iron or low carbon steel. Yes, rairoad rails can be used many times for making tools and knives because they are usually of sufficient carbon to be hardened, but not always.
However, you are correct in stating that you can often times find interesting patterns in high carbon steels that are neither pattern welded nor wootz type steels.
Sincerely,
Steve