Its a lovely old piece Bill...
Fellows, Shear steel is steel made from carbonised iron bars that were then sheared in half & forge welded together. It was the traditional steel in for British swords & knives before cast steel was invented.{it was still used for some select knives by a couple of makers makers up untill early 20th century.}
So essentialy it a European damascus steel , that was never designed to be etched. It was forge welded to get the desired qualitys, then highly polished.If the pattern showed it was regarded as poor workmanship.
If the rods were cut & folded twice its "double shear steel." That was usualy used for butchers & abatoir knives.
Spiral