Abstract
IN an earlier paper in Gladius , I discussed methods of producing hardened steel sword blades in the Middle Ages; most of the specimens illustrated came from the period 1000-1500 A. D. Comparatively little has been written about Greek and Roman sword blades but a good deal about the pattern-welding of those blades which succeeded them in Western Europe. This was a method (practised between the 3rd and 10th centuries A. D.) of making large sword blades out of numerous small pieces of iron, producing, in addition, a decorative effect which was much prized, at least as much as any improvement in hardness. With the revival of the employment of large shaft furnaces, larger pieces of iron could be made, and pattern-welded blades went out of use around the l0th/11th century. Many blades of the Middle Ages were simply made by forging out a single bar of iron, edge-carburising it and then hardening the steeled edge by some form of heat-treatment, of which an example is specimen. No. 1. Other blades were made by forging together layers of steel and iron to give a steel cutting-edge (on a softer core) which could then be hardened.
Highlights
' hardened steel sword blades in the Middle Ages; most of the specimens illustrated came from the period 1000-1500 A
Little has been written about Greek and Roman sword blades but a good deal about the pattern-welding of those blades which succeeded them in Western Europe
With the revival of the employment of large shaft furnaces, larger pieces of iron could be made, and pattern-welded blades went out of use around the l 0 t h / l lth century. c Many blades of the Middle Ages were made by forging out a single bar of iron, edge-carburising it and hardening the steeled edge by some form of heat-treatment, of which an example is specimen
Summary
The author would like to thank Dr Van der Sloet of the Nederlands Wapenmuseum, Leiden, Dr Stubenvoll of the Historisches Museum, Frankfurt, Dr Krenn of the Landeszeughaus, Graz, and Herr Eugen Heer of the Swiss Arms and Armour Institute, Grandson, for their enthusiastic co-operation. The central core of the blade consists mostly of ferrite This is surrounded by a layer of a dark-etching material, three or four times as broad as the central band. The layers contain an irresolvable material, probably bainite, and the outer layers tempered martensite mixed with bainite, especially in the vicinity of welds (see below). Other streaks are to be seen in the hardened areas These are probably the result of non-metallic inclusions incorporated during forge-welding (perhaps from a flux) which have reacted with the etchant. At hig"h magnification U this may be resolved as' tempered martensite This sword has been fabricated from a homogeneous steel, which has been hardened by heat-treatment. I t has probably been quenched, i . e . rapidly cooled from above A, (the upper critical temperature) to transform it to martensite and gently reheated t c temper tt
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
