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Art. XII.—On the Cause of the external Pattern, or Watering of the Damascus Sword-Blades

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 March 2011

Henry Wilkinson
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Extract

It is well known that Damascus was formerly celebrated all over the world for its manufacture of sword-blades, and it is recorded, that when Timúr Lang conquered Syria, in the beginning of the fourteenth century, he carried off all the manufacturers of steel into Persia; since which period, the fabrication of arms has declined at Damascus, and the successors of those workmen, being dispersed over the East, are said either to have lost the secret, or ceased to make blades of more than ordinary goodness. We must, however, first divest ourselves of all prejudice in favour of the exaggerated reports of their qualities, and remember, that at the time when the natives of the East were well acquainted with the art of working in iron and steel, we, and indeed all Europe, appear to have been comparatively in a state of perfect ignorance; the ancient swords of Damascus, therefore, when opposed to those of other countries, were probably found to be infinitely superior in temper and quality; which, combined with their great external beauty, stamped them for ages with so high a character for excellence, that they are even now handed down as heir-looms by Eastern princes to their posterity. The extraordinary prices that have been offered and obtained for them, sufficiently attest the estimation in which they were held, which is certainly not warranted in the present day, when swords of equal, or superior quality, might be manufactured at one-twentieth of the expense. In addition to the foregoing observations, the strength and great dexterity of the swordsmen must be taken into consideration, and much of the apparent superiority of these blades may be undoubtedly ascribed to this cause.

Type
Original Communications
Information
Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society , Volume 4 , Issue 7 , January 1837 , pp. 187 - 193
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Asiatic Society 0000

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References

page 187 note 1 Two swords presented to Sir John Campbell by the Shah of Persia, were valued at 200 ducats each, or about 861. And the Umeer of Scind had a large sword, for which he refused 9000 rupees, equal to 9001.

page 188 note 1 In Vol. i., p. 245, of the “Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal,” there are some interesting particulars relative to the native manufacture of steel in Southern India, extracted from the MS. Journals of the late Dr. Voysey; and at page 253 of the same Journal, some observations are made on the Salem Ironworks. Dr. Heyne has published his “Tracts on India” in which he fully describes the method of manufacturing iron and steel in various parts of India. The MSS. of Dr. Moorcroft and Major James Franklin are in the library at the East India House.

page 188 note 2 Bamboo-charcoal is said to be preferred, probably in consequence of the quantity of silica it contains, which acts as a flux.

page 188 note 3 The dried branches of the Cassia auriculata, and the fresh leaves of the Convolvulus laurifolia, are employed.—DR. Heyne.

page 190 note 1 I gave a specimen of Salem steel to an experienced forger, who attempted to work it at various heats without success, and at length declared it to be incorrigibly bad, and perfectly useless for any purpose. I then tried another portion of the same steel myself, and found it could be worked with little more difficulty than ordinary cast-steel; thus proving that, in experiments of this nature, we should never be satisfied with the opinion of one person only, however skilful. These cakes, however, appear to differ very much in quality, and are decidedly inferior to the Cutch steel.

page 190 note 2 Sulphuric or nitric acid diluted with water may be used for this purpose; but immersion in a bath composed of a solution of sulphate of copper in water, in the proportion of one ounce to a quart, produces a better effect, and exhibits the crystalline arrangement perfectly. The surface of the metal must be previously freed from grease, either by rubbing with wood-ashes and water, as in India, or by smearing it over with a paste of chalk and water, and allowing it to dry on: the time of immersion may vary from ten minutea to half an hour.—H. W.