`The Mystery of Damascus Blades` by John. D. Verhoeven
An article that appeared in the January 2001 edition of Scientific American
Complements the paper on wootz steel recently posted : http://projects.olin.edu/revere/Cool%20 ... 202001.pdf
Re: The Mystery of Damascus Blades.
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 4:36 am
by timmy
Excellent, Grumpy! That's another one for the hard disk! Thanks!
Re: The Mystery of Damascus Blades.
Posted: Thu Dec 19, 2013 12:53 pm
by brihacharan
> Thanks grumpy for sharing this excellent information...made very interesting reading
> It was good to note that the steel was imported from India as also the technology of forging
Briha
Re: The Mystery of Damascus Blades.
Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 4:14 am
by ckkalyan
Very interesting article Grumpy - many thanks for sharing!
It is a wonder that these secret techniques were available out of India so long ago...here is another video that not only explains the mystrey but also recreates the fabulous Viking Sword - +ULFBERH+T
It is truly amazing that all this goes back again to crucible steel from India; which reminds of what Louis L'amour says about Tinker Blades...and their creators - the gypsies originating from the the North-West region of India.
Re: The Mystery of Damascus Blades.
Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 10:07 am
by Moin.
Excellent read. Thanks for sharing Grumpy.
Regards
Moin.
Re: The Mystery of Damascus Blades.
Posted: Mon May 12, 2014 10:12 am
by brihacharan
ckkalyan wrote:
It is truly amazing that all this goes back again to crucible steel from India; which reminds of what Louis L'amour says about Tinker Blades...and their creators - the gypsies originating from the the North-West region of India.
> This is very interesting....
B, K, Sarkar the noted historian says that the secret of manufacturing the so-called Damascus blade was learnt by the Saracens from the Persians, who, in their turn, had learnt it from the Hindus. Early Arabic literature provides us with a curious illustration of the esteem with which Indian swords were looked upon in Western Asia. An early Arabic poet, Hellal, describing the flight of the Hemyarites, says: "But they fled under its (ie. the clouds) small hail of arrows quickly, whilst hard Indian swords were penetrating them." and again: "He died and we inherited him; one old wide (cuirass) and a bright Indian (sword) with a long shoulder-belt." (Hindu Achievements in Exact Science - By B. K. Sarkar
Ref: www.hinduwisdom.info/War_in_Ancient_India.htm
