09-30-2012, 08:22 PM
Alan, I hope that you like the book. I think that it is an excellent resource.
Most authorities, including Williams, James and Buchwald, suggest that pattern welding techniques were first used and developed by the Celts, and then taken up by others. Manufacture of pattern welded swords, probably under the control of the Romans, would appear to be well underway by the 2nd century; at least that appears to be when the Germanic tribes start taking to the double edged 'spatha' in preference to their single edged swords.
I am not aware of pattern welded swords being made earlier in the East but it would be interesting to see an example if they are around. Pattern welding, is of course just a development of hammer welding two or more components together. Folding iron or steel can take place without the process of pattern welding.
Incidentally, both Williams and Buchwald are able to demonstrate that pattern welding didn't necessarily produce a better blade than other methods, but they go being used in the north for a long time, and it is probable that it was the patterns that had some significance for those peoples.
Here is a review of Buchwald's book: http://www.erudit.org/revue/etudinuit/20...0816ar.pdf
Paul
Most authorities, including Williams, James and Buchwald, suggest that pattern welding techniques were first used and developed by the Celts, and then taken up by others. Manufacture of pattern welded swords, probably under the control of the Romans, would appear to be well underway by the 2nd century; at least that appears to be when the Germanic tribes start taking to the double edged 'spatha' in preference to their single edged swords.
I am not aware of pattern welded swords being made earlier in the East but it would be interesting to see an example if they are around. Pattern welding, is of course just a development of hammer welding two or more components together. Folding iron or steel can take place without the process of pattern welding.
Incidentally, both Williams and Buchwald are able to demonstrate that pattern welding didn't necessarily produce a better blade than other methods, but they go being used in the north for a long time, and it is probable that it was the patterns that had some significance for those peoples.
Here is a review of Buchwald's book: http://www.erudit.org/revue/etudinuit/20...0816ar.pdf
Paul
Paul Mortimer
