HEAT TREATED? WOOTZ BLADE

Richard Furrer · 27th June 2007, 04:09 PM

Hello All,
There have been no reports which I am aware of which state that any wootz blade was martensitic.
On a recent trip through north India I saw many blade which showed this darker edge, many were Persian, but a few Indian.....as I understand the differences.
This will be the subject of some study in the near future.

I have several samples to test, but should anyone have any blades which exhibit this and are of no use for anything else I would like to take a sample of the blade for testing...and yes, this is a destructive test and yes it will occur in a lab both in the UK and in the US.

My gut reaction was that they were heat treated in some fashion, but quenching to martensite is but one possibility.

Ric

27th June 2007, 04:09 PM	#5
Richard Furrer Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin Posts: 163	Hello All, There have been no reports which I am aware of which state that any wootz blade was martensitic. On a recent trip through north India I saw many blade which showed this darker edge, many were Persian, but a few Indian.....as I understand the differences. This will be the subject of some study in the near future. I have several samples to test, but should anyone have any blades which exhibit this and are of no use for anything else I would like to take a sample of the blade for testing...and yes, this is a destructive test and yes it will occur in a lab both in the UK and in the US. My gut reaction was that they were heat treated in some fashion, but quenching to martensite is but one possibility. Ric