Bulat steel
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Bulat is a type of steel alloy known in Russia from medieval times; it was regularly mentioned in Russian legends as the material of choice for cold steel. The name булат is a Russian transliteration
Detail of a wootz steel knife, 19th century, Persia. Wootz is likely the Indo-Arabic term for the same material.
Pattern welding
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Pattern welding is a smithing practice of folding and/or twisting metal, possibly multiple pieces that are forge-welded. This results in differing layers in a pattern, hence the name. This process was
A contemporary pattern-welded sword blade made by Danish swordsmith Ejvind Nørgård. The blade shows a chevron pattern with opposing twists and straight laminate alternating.
An image of a modern pattern welded knife blade, showing the dramatic patterning on the side below, and the layering of the steel in the spine above. Acid etching darkens the 1080 plain carbon steel more than it does the 15N20 low alloy nickel steel, producing alternating bands of light and dark on the surface.