Hi Rand, interesting article.
If I understood the process, the smith first annealed the blade and then rehardened it through an oil quench. Lastly he re-etched the blade to bring out the pattern. I got the impression that the author believed the entire process was necessary in order to get the pattern, but if I'm not mistaken the heat treatment was unnecessary for this purpose. Isn't the pattern a result of the initial cooling of the crucible ingot from liquid phase? I think the heat treat may have refined the grain structure but the pattern must have been inherently in the steel.
Wasn't wootz still being produced in India at this time?
Regards,
Emanuel
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