Writer’s Deep Dive: Damascus Steel
Posted on October 14, 2022 Leave a Comment
Damascus steel blades have been prized for their sharpness, durability, and balance of hardness and flexibility. Throughout history, steel has been valued, upheld as a gift from the gods. Yet Damascus steel has a legendary status and to this day is ascribed near-mythological properties.
Now, let’s dive in!
What is Damascus Steel?
Damascus is a high carbon steel alloy that exhibits a unique pattern when forged. [2]
The metal was developed in southern India and Sri Lanka during the mid-1st millennium BCE and was known as Wootz steel or Seric steel. A mixture of cast iron (also known as pig iron), iron, and sometimes steel was heated to extreme temperatures in a crucible that was commonly made of clay. [1] Often sand, glass, ashes, and other fluxes or cleaning agents were added to the mixture. The charcoal or coal fires in use at the time could not produce temperatures high enough to melt steel. They could, however, melt cast iron. As the iron or steel sat in the melted cast iron, they absorbed its carbon, creating a composite. The hot metal was then poured into molds to form ingots or billets. [3]
However, the mix of metals in these ingots was irregular and the carbon unevenly dispersed. To spread the mixtures of metals more evenly, during the forging process, the billet was drawn out, then folded back on itself hundreds or even thousands of times. Rather than quenching, the blades were commonly hardened by repeated heating and air cooling in a process called thermal cycling. Filing and polishing a forged Damascus blade revealed an intricate pattern. Often the banding is reminiscent of flowing water, but other patterns, such as “ladder” and “rose” were possible. This distinct patterning is the hallmark of Damascus steel. Unlike etched metal, the swirling pattern runs through the entire blade and not just the surface. If a Damascus blade is cut or broken, the pattern is visible in the cross section. Throughout history, multiple cultures have referred to Damascus as “watered steel.” They were also called “damascene” or “damascened” swords. [6]
The City that Named a Steel
There are several theories about the origin of the name “Damascus.” The most common is that it was named as the capital city of Syria that became famous for its swordsmiths. [4] The city of Damascus became the primary customer for ingots of Wootz steel from India and Sri Lanka and a leader in blade making from the 3rd to the 17th century. [5]
Other theories claim the name is derived from “damas,” the Arabic root word for “watered” and the origin of the word “damask.” There are also records of a swordsmith named Damasqui who used crucible steel. [7]
Over time, the production of Damascus swords declined. The last account is from Sri Lanka in 1903 by Coomaraswamy. [8]
Crucible Steel Versus Pattern Welding
Beginning in the 18th century, some gunsmiths began using the term Damascus steel for their pattern-welded gun barrels.
Pattern welding involves stacking and welding hard and soft metals together to form a billet, which is then drawn out and folded. Sometimes decorative patterns are cut into the metals to create complex designs. Pattern welding dates to the first millennium BC and was used by the Celts and Vikings. [9]
Although similar in appearance, pattern welded steel is not the same as Damascus. Crucible steel is harder and more time-consuming to produce. Unfortunately, a lot of pattern wielded steel is marketed as Damascus nowadays as well as surface etched blades.
I hope this was helpful. Let me know if you have questions or suggestions by using the Contact Me form on my website or by writing a comment. I post every Friday and would be grateful if you would share my content.
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Copyright © 2022 Rebecca Shedd. All rights reserved.
[1] Dube, R. K. (2014-11-01). “Wootz: Erroneous Transliteration of Sanskrit “Utsa” used for Indian Crucible Steel”. JOM. 66 (11): 2390–2396. doi:10.1007/s11837-014-1154-1. ISSN 1543-1851. [2] Figiel, Leo S. (1991). On Damascus Steel. Atlantis Arts Press. pp. 10–11. ISBN 978-0-9628711-0-8. [3] Pacey, Arnold (1991). Technology in World Civilization: A Thousand-year History. MIT Press. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-262-66072-3. [4] Goddard, Wayne (2000). The Wonder of Knifemaking. Iola, WI: Krause Publications. pp. 137–145. ISBN 978-0-87341-798-3. [5] Sinopoli, Carla M. (2003). The Political Economy of Craft Production: Crafting Empire in South India, c. 1350–1650. Cambridge University Press. p. 192. ISBN 0-521-82613-6. [6] Osborn, Marijane (2002). ““The Wealth They Left Us”: Two Women Author Themselves through Others' Lives in Beowulf”. heroicage.org. Department of English, University of California at Davis. Retrieved 6 July 2021. [7] Bīrūnī, Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad (1989). Kitāb al-jamāhir fī maʻrifat al-jawāhir [The book most comprehensive in knowledge on precious stones: al-Beruni's book on mineralogy]. Islamabad: Pakistan Hijra Council. ISBN 969-8016-28-7. OCLC 25412863. [8] Feuerbach, Anna Marie. (2002). Crucible steel in Central Asia: production, use, and origins. University of London. OCLC 499391952. [9] Verhoeven, John D. (2002). “Genuine Damascus Steel: a type of banded microstructure in hypereutectoid steels” (PDF). Materials Technology. Iowa State University. Steel Research, 73 (8): 356–365. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2006 – via Internet Archive.
The Writer’s Guide to Types of Metals
Posted on September 30, 2022 Leave a Comment
The metal used in the forging process is just as important as the item being made. Poor quality will cause bent blades or dull tools. Today, I will explore the most common metals found on our planet and some of their history. This is not an exhaustive list and does not mean you cannot make up your own metals for your world.
As always, magic is the exception to the rule. Because magic.
Naturally Occurring Metals
Gold – A “free” metal that can be found in caves and rivers, gold was the first worked by humans according to the earliest records. [1] This metal occurs naturally around the world and was used by many ancient civilizations for jewelry and other decorations, including those in Egypt, India, the Middle East, and North and South America. [2] Once it is extracted, gold is refined to remove impurities. Refining involves heating the metal to a molten state and skimming off the slag that rises to the surface. Gold can also be mixed with other metals to form an alloy and can only be tempered through work hardening.
Image source.
Silver – Like gold, silver is a naturally occurring metal that can be found in the earth’s crust. It can also form an alloy with other metals. Silver is a byproduct of refining gold, copper, lead, and zinc. Throughout history, it was mainly used as ornamentation or currency and was in use in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. [3] It also became a critical component of early photography because of its photosensitivity.
Copper – This was the first metal that was smelted, around 5,000 B.C., and cast into shape, around 4,000 B.C. [4] It was also the first to be successfully used to create weapons, although it was also used decoratively. It could only be tempered by work hardening and could be combined with other metals to form alloys. Most commonly, it was mixed with tin to form bronze. The earliest evidence of worked copper is a pendant that dates from 8,700 BCE and was found in northern Iraq. [5]
Image source.
Iron – Iron in a metallic state is rare on earth but can be found in abundance within iron ores. The primary source of metallic iron is meteorites, which were prized by ancient civilizations. A dagger made of meteoric iron was found in the tomb of the pharaoh Tutankhamun. [6] Removing iron from ore is known as smelting and requires kilns or furnaces that can reach a temperature of 2,730 ° F (1,500° C). After that, iron can be worked hot in a forge. The earliest evidence of iron working has been found in Mesopotamia and Syria and dated between 3,000 and 2,700 B.C. [7]
Tin – This metal is soft and malleable and can be bent with little effort. There are few artifacts that have been found made solely of tin since most tin was mixed with copper to form bronze. Tin is unevenly dispersed around the globe with the richest source being Europe, most notably the border region between Germany and the Czech Republic, the Iberian Peninsula, Brittany in France, and southwestern Briton. There is evidence of trade in tin from Cornwall by the Late Bronze Age. [8]
Lead – Lead is a soft and easily worked metal, but as a heavy metal, it is denser than others. This metal is easily extracted from ores and is a byproduct of silver smelting. [9] It was used by the ancient peoples of the Middle East and throughout history lead has been used in plumbing, bullets and shot, batteries, making pewter, and cosmetics.
Alloys
Bronze – Bronze is a mixture of copper and most commonly tin, although arsenic, aluminum, manganese, nickel, or zinc could also be used. It is harder than copper, more resistant to corrosion, and has a lower melting point, making it easier to melt and cast. [10] Bronze cannot be tempered with heat but must be work hardened. This metal was a game changer for ancient civilization because it could be crafted into harder and more durable tools, weapons, and armor. The earliest bronze artifact comes from Serbia and dates to 4,650 B.C. [11]
Steel – This metal is an alloy of iron and carbon. There is evidence of limited production from Anatolia from as far back at 1,800 B.C. [12] Steel has high tensile strength and is low cost to produce. The use of the bloomery smelter and crucibles were developed as the best method to process steel and the early masters were in Sri Lanka. They were using these advanced methods by the 6th century BC. [13] This steel was known as Seric Iron or Wootz steel and it was exported to the Romans, Egyptians, Arabs, and Chinese. [14] Later it was called Damascus and is still prized today for its durable sharp edge. Eventually, the knowledge of how to create steel spread throughout the Old World, across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
I hope this was helpful. Let me know if you have questions or suggestions by using the Contact Me form on my website or by writing a comment. I post every Friday and would be grateful if you would share my content.
If you want my blog delivered straight to your inbox every month along with exclusive content and giveaways, please sign up for my email list here.
Let’s get writing!
Copyright © 2022 Rebecca Shedd. All rights reserved.
[1] “Mystery of the Varna Gold: What Caused These Ancient Societies to Disappear?”. [2] Sutherland, C.H.V, Gold (London, Thames & Hudson, 1959) p 27 ff. [3] Readon, Arthur C. (2011). Metallurgy for the Non-Metallurgist. ASM International. pp. 73–84. ISBN 978-1-61503-821-3. [4] McHenry, Charles, ed. (1992). The New Encyclopedia Britannica. Vol. 3 (15 ed.). Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. p. 612. ISBN 978-0-85229-553-3. [5] Rayner W. Hesse (2007). Jewelrymaking through History: an Encyclopedia. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-313-33507-5.No primary source is given in that book. [6] Bjorkman, Judith Kingston (1973). “Meteors and Meteorites in the ancient Near East”. Meteoritics. 8 (2): 91–132. Bibcode:1973Metic...8...91B. doi:10.1111/j.1945-5100.1973.tb00146.x.2,730 [7] Weeks, Mary Elvira; Leichester, Henry M. (1968). "Elements known to the ancients". Discovery of the elements. Easton, PA: Journal of Chemical Education. pp. 29–40. ISBN 0-7661-3872-0. LCCN 68-15217. [8] Pernicka, Ernst; Lockhoff, Nicole; Galili, Ehud; Brügmann, Gerhard; Giumlia-Mair, Alessandra R.; Soles, Jeffrey S.; Berger, Daniel (26 June 2019). "Isotope systematics and chemical composition of tin ingots from Mochlos (Crete) and other Late Bronze Age sites in the eastern Mediterranean Sea: An ultimate key to tin provenance?". PLOS ONE. 14 (6): e0218326. Bibcode:2019PLoSO..1418326B. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0218326. ISSN 1932-6203. PMC 6594607. PMID 31242218. [9] Hong, S.; Candelone, J.-P.; Patterson, C. C.; et al. (1994). "Greenland ice evidence of hemispheric lead pollution two millennia ago by Greek and Roman civilizations" (PDF). Science. 265 (5180): 1841–43. Bibcode:1994Sci...265.1841H. doi:10.1126/science.265.5180.1841. PMID 17797222. S2CID 45080402. [10] James E. McClellan III; Harold Dorn (2006). Science and Technology in World History: An Introduction. JHU Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8360-6. p. 21. [11] Radivojević, Miljana; Rehren, Thilo (December 2013). "Tainted ores and the rise of tin bronzes in Eurasia, c. 6500 years ago". Antiquity Publications Ltd. Archived from the original on 2014-02-05. [12] Akanuma, H. (2005). "The significance of the composition of excavated iron fragments taken from Stratum III at the site of Kaman-Kalehöyük, Turkey". Anatolian Archaeological Studies. Tokyo: Japanese Institute of Anatolian Archaeology. 14: 147–158. [13] Davidson, H. R. Ellis (1994). The Sword in Anglo-Saxon England: Its Archaeology and Literature. Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK: Boydell Press. ISBN 0-85115-355-0. [14] Srinivasan, Sharada (1994). "Wootz crucible steel: a newly discovered production site in South India". Papers from the Institute of Archaeology. 5: 49–59. doi:10.5334/pia.60.
Writer’s Deep Dive: Metalworkers
Posted on September 16, 2022 1 Comment
When most people think of metalworkers, the image that commonly comes to their mind is a medieval blacksmith hammering at his anvil. However, there are other types of metalworkers, most of whom were skilled in a specialized craft.
I will focus in this article on metal crafts from before the Industrial Revolution. Unfortunately, that means I will leave out ironworkers, welders, and machinists.
Now, let’s dive in!
Whitesmiths
While blacksmiths worked with dark-colored metals such as iron, whitesmiths worked with light colored metals such as tin. [1] Whitesmithing is also used as a term for finishing work such as polishing, filing, lathing, and burnishing. [2] The first written description of a whitesmith is from 1686. [3]
Jewelers
Although we rarely consider people who craft metal jewelry as metalworkers, they are masters at manipulating gold, silver, and other precious metals. The first metal jewelry was copper and made 7,000 years ago. [4] The ancient Egyptians crafted and wore a tremendous amount of gold jewelry.
Founders
A founder is a craftsman who casts objects by pouring molten metal into molds. A variety of metals can be cast, including aluminum, cast iron, bronze, brass, and steel. There are also many types of casting, such as sand casting, shell molding, die casting, and loam molding. The oldest cast piece is a copper frog from 3200 BC, that was found in Mesopotamia. The Chinese began casting iron between 800 and 700 BC and the technology made its way to Europe in the 15th century.
Farriers
Farriers specialize in shoeing horses, although it also involves trimming the excess growth off the hoof. These tradesmen must have blacksmithing skills to custom fit or even fabricate horseshoes, but also knowledge of the anatomy of the lower leg and foot. Although the term farrier is synonymous with horses, there are farriers who see to the trimming and health of the hooves of cattle, goats, and sheep. The first horseshoes were made of leather or woven plants. The metal horseshoe developed in northern Europe during the 6th and 7th centuries.
Armorer
A craft specializing in armor, this art requires blacksmithing and usually leatherworking. Plate armor was first used by the ancient Greeks and full suits of plate mail were developed in Europe, starting the 12th century and through the 14th.
Blade and Gunsmiths
Bladesmithing is a catch-all terms for craftsmen who made a variety of blades, including knives, daggers, scythes, and swords. [5] There are specific terms for each type, such as knifemaker and swordsmith. Blademaking is a specialized skill that requires knowledge of metallurgy and various techniques. Different regions became famous for their unique metal, techniques, or quality.
The art nearly died out in the Western world after the Middle Ages when the sword stopped being a common weapon of war. The last couple of decades have seen a rebirth, although much of the knowledge was lost. Other parts of the world kept the craft alive, such as Japan, where they never stopped making blades.
Gunsmithing is the art of crafting and repairing firearms. It requires incredible precision and exact machining.
I hope this was helpful. Let me know if you have questions or suggestions by using the Contact Me form on my website or by writing a comment. I post every Friday and would be grateful if you would share my content.
If you want my blog delivered straight to your inbox every month along with exclusive content and giveaways, please sign up for my email list here.
Let’s get writing!
Copyright © 2022 Rebecca Shedd. All rights reserved.
[1] Susan Hanway Scott (2012), "Whitesmithing", The Hunt Magazine, vol. Summer 2012 [2] John Holland (1831). "VI". A treatise on the progressive improvement and present state of the manufactures in metal. Vol. II:Iron and Steel. Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green & Longman, and John Taylor. pp. 124–157. [3] Oxford English Dictionary https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/ [4] Holland, J. 1999. The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia. Kingfisher books. [5] Barney, Richard W.; Loveless, Robert W. (March 1995) [1977]. How to Make Knives. Knife World Publications. ISBN 0-695-80913-X.
The Writer’s Guide to the History of Blacksmithing
Posted on September 2, 2022 Leave a Comment
Blacksmithing has a long history. Only stone working is older. The craft was refined and advanced by trial and error and through interactions between cultures. The weapons and tools produced by these early smiths forged cities and countries.
As always, magic is the exception to the rule. Because magic.
The Copper Age
Between the Stone Age and the Bronze Age is the Copper Age or the Chalcolithic Age, which just means “copper stone” in Greek. [1] It lasted roughly from the late 5th to the 3rd millennia. Gold, silver, and copper were the first metals worked by humans since they are malleable and occur naturally. Elaborate shapes could be crafted from these metals and as well as tools and weapons hardened by long periods of light tapping known as work hardening. Evidence of copper smelting during this period was found in Serbia. [2]
The Bronze Age
Lasting from approximately 3,300 BC to 1,200 BC, this period saw the growing use of bronze and the development of advanced techniques, such as smelting, melting, casting, riveting, and forging. Bronze is a mixture of copper and either tin, arsenic, or other metals. It is harder than copper, more resistant to corrosion, and has a lower melting point, making it easier to melt and cast. [3] Just like copper, bronze cannot be tempered with heat but must be work hardened. Bronze smithing appears to have originated in the Middle East with the Indus River Valley civilianization, but it spread across Asia, Europe, and Africa. It was also developed in the Americas with the Incas, the Moche civilization, and the Calchaquí people of Argentina, all possessing the technology. [4]
The Iron Age
The Bronze Age ended with a period of sudden and violent social collapse. Even today, we are unsure of the cause, although natural disasters and invasions are common theories. The Late Bronze Age Collapse engulfed most of southeast Europe, west Asia, and North Africa. The knowledge of smelting and working iron developed in Anatolia, where it was closely guarded. With the collapse of their empire, the knowledge rapidly spread throughout the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
The Steel Age
Unlike the sudden transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age, the development of steel was sporadic and uneven. Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon, and Iron Age smiths would occasionally make it by accident. The weapons made from this accidental steel were highly prized and considered gifts from the gods. In some cultures, these weapons were the only ones given names. There were some civilizations that discovered the secret to making steel, but they usually guarded it closely and prevented the knowledge from spreading. There is evidence of limited production from Anatolia from as far back at 1800 B.C. [5]
The Roman ensured their legions were equipped with steel. Their weapons were far superior to those made of iron, and they recorded that when they were fighting the Celts, their opponents had to step on their swords to straighten them after two or three swings.
The earliest and most consistent production of high carbon steel took place in southern India. Known as Seric Iron or Wootz steel, it was exported to the Romans, Egyptians, Arabs, and Chinese. [6] Later this type of steel was called Damascus, a type that is still prized today for its durable sharp edge. Eventually, the knowledge of how to create steel disseminated throughout the Old World, across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Steelmaking would be the backbone of the Industrial Revolution and the material used to build much of the infrastructure of the modern world.
I hope this was helpful. Let me know if you have questions or suggestions by using the Contact Me form on my website or by writing a comment. I post every Friday and would be grateful if you would share my content.
If you want my blog delivered straight to your inbox every month along with exclusive content and giveaways, please sign up for my email list here.
Let’s get writing!
Copyright © 2022 Rebecca Shedd. All rights reserved.
[1] The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) ISBN 0-19-861263-X, p. 301: “Chalcolithic /,kælkəl'lɪθɪk/ adjective Archaeology of, relating to, or denoting a period in the 4th and 3rd millennium BC, chiefly in the Near East and SE Europe, during which some weapons and tools were made of copper. This period was still largely Neolithic in character. Also called Eneolithic... Also called Copper Age – Origin early 20th cent.: from Greek khalkos 'copper' + lithos 'stone' + -ic”. [2] “Serbian site may have hosted first copper makers”. UCL.ac.uk. UCL Institute of Archaeology. 23 September 2010. Retrieved 22 April 2017. [3] James E. McClellan III; Harold Dorn (2006). Science and Technology in World History: An Introduction. JHU Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8360-6. p. 21. [4] “El bronce y el horizonte medio”. lablaa.org. Archived from the original on 17 April 2009. Retrieved 22 March 2010. [5] Akanuma, H. (2005). “The significance of the composition of excavated iron fragments taken from Stratum III at the site of Kaman-Kalehöyük, Turkey”. Anatolian Archaeological Studies. Tokyo: Japanese Institute of Anatolian Archaeology. 14: 147–158. [6] Srinivasan, Sharada (1994). “Wootz crucible steel: a newly discovered production site in South India”. Papers from the Institute of Archaeology. 5: 49–59. doi:10.5334/pia.60.
Writer’s Deep Dive: Anvils
Posted on August 19, 2022 2 Comments
The anvil is an essential piece of a blacksmith’s equipment and the most iconic symbol of the trade. They may look simple, but there is an incredible amount of clever design that goes into this piece of technology.
Now, let’s dive in!
The Basics
The first anvils were made of stone, then bronze, then wrought iron. As steel became commonplace, iron anvils were faced with it. Most modern anvils are made of forged or cast steel. Steel provides a hard working surface that prevents the anvil from deforming under the repeated impacts and reduces the amount of force lost with each hammer blow.
Early anvils were a simple block. The shape we are familiar with today is the London pattern anvil from the mid-19th century.
The standard anvil is made of these parts:
Face – This is the flat top that is the primary work surface. It has rounded sides that will not cut into the metal. The face is hardened and tempered. Striking the anvil face with full force is discouraged since it can chip or deform it.
Horn – The rounded horn is used to bend metal into curved shapes. It can also be used for drawing. Some anvils have two horns, one rounded and the other square. Others have side horns or clips.
Step – The transition between the horn and the face is the step, since it “steps” down. It is soft and used as a cutting surface.
Hardy Hole – A square hole in the face that is used for punching, bending, and holding a variety of tools called hardy tools.
Pritchel Hole – A hole in the face smaller than the hardy hole that is mainly used for punching.
Most anvils made since the late 18th century have hardy and pritchel holes while European medieval anvils do not.
It is critical for the anvil to have a sturdy base that could withstand the impacts and fire of the forge. Large logs or a big piece of timber are traditional and still common today. Often several feet of the base are buried in the floor to prevent it from moving or falling over. The anvil is secured to the base using spikes, chains, large staples, metal straps, or any other method the smith could come up with.
The anvil was placed close to the forge, so the smith didn’t have to walk far with rapidly cooling metal.
During the Middle Ages, a common practice among blacksmiths was to strike the metal three times, then lightly tap the anvil face. When closing their shops on Saturday, smiths would commonly strike the anvil face three times, although not with full force. Both practices were thought to scare away the devil and witches.
The Write Angle
If you have a character who is a blacksmith, describing them using the different parts of the anvil shows they are skilled at their craft. Also, knowing the different techniques and the parts of the anvil used to achieve them can add interest to a forging scene. It’s more interesting than “he forged the axe head.”
You could write a forge accident where the anvil is not properly secured and falls off the base or the base and anvil topple over.
I hope this was helpful. Let me know if you have questions or suggestions by using the Contact Me form on my website or by writing a comment. I post every Friday and would be grateful if you would share my content.
If you want my blog delivered straight to your inbox every month along with exclusive content and giveaways, please sign up for my email list here.
Let’s get writing!
Copyright © 2022 Rebecca Shedd. All rights reserved.
Rebecca Shedd - Author 