Viking PATTERN WELDING - How To

Pattern welding is an amazing and amazingly old process where two different steels are forge welded together and beaten, twisted, folded and generally manipulated to make simple and bold or incredibly complex patterns and an easy way to work things out is to use plasticine of all things! My good friend Owen Bush is a master at pattern welding and earlier this year I went to see a sword he had made 'for' the hero in Song of Steel by JC Duncan.
We made a film all about that, but didn't use all of Owens demonstrations or our chat, so in this film, Owen uses plasticine to work out the patterns first and then moves onto steel.....
The original video about the sword: • Forging an INCREDIBLE ...
You can find J.C.Duncans' excellent book "A Song of Steel" on Amazon or jcduncan.co.uk
If you would like to support this channel, visiting my sites really helps, as does signing up to the news letter on the home page of my sites and this way you will be one of the first to know when there is stuff you need to know.
Custom work from todsworkshop.com​​
Budget production replica weapons are available here todcutler.com​​
And T shirts and Merch todsworkshop.c...
You will find Owen and his excellent blacksmithing/knife smithing courses here www.owenbush.c...

[@widgren87]

This is the type content that keeps me interested in Metal-working even though I will likely never start myself...

[@timcox6272]

It would be amazing if they did abit of a how to get into/started in metalworking, experimental archeology, archery etc.

[@Harry-x4n]

@@timcox6272 Apprenticeship would be my guess. There's school(s?) in my province here in Canada.

[@umartdagnir]

It's remarkably easy to start doing the simple things. The biggest limitation is a requirement for some space outside, not everyone has a house.

[@timcox6272]

@@umartdagnir the space issue is being dealt with 🙂 have to got any tips on where to look for guidance on starting or recommend books? Before I just Google how to videos lol!

[@notcalledbob2654]

Owen bush does one day blade smithing courses. I signed up for one towards the end of the year, following the last video. Might be worth a look if you have an interest.

[@enormhi]

It is such a "simple" idea, just layering a bunch of different steels on top of each other, twisting it a bit, but the results are absolutely stunning!

[@5chr4pn3ll]

And from the start the patterns were probably just accidents. The method of mixing different irons likely came about because the makers had iron of different quality, so they mixed them together in order to get an average between the two. Either because of availability or will to save materials. Later on though it became more of a mark of quality.

[@MadGeorge88]

@@5chr4pn3ll might have just been a shady iron dealer slipping in different quality metal in between blocks, like a gypsy roll, real money on the outside fake on the inside.

[@chopgr]

@@5chr4pn3ll Or maybe because due to unbalanced availability, they mixed up any type of ingot they had at that time and ended up "unlocking" some truly wonderous milestones in metalworking.

[@j.c.duncan5478]

Watching Owen work never gets dull, nor does seeing the sword all pretty and posing on an anvil. Thanks Owen and Tod for making these videos, it was a fun day, and so interesting to listen to the chat. Owen makes beautiful swords and is a wonderful teacher and 'historian of steel'. I highly recommend his bladesmithing school, which he doesn't plug here but I've been on three of his courses and they were all awesome. And do support Tod by visiting his store and buying something shiny. I was a fan of his videos long before I was a customer. He makes amazing historical reproductions.

[@Ryzawa]

Your book looks beautiful next to the lovely blade in the b shot at the end. And you're right, I'd probably take Owen's course just to hear him lecture, can't guaranteed I'd be able to do anything with the knowledge yet unfortunately. The way he used Plasticine to demonstrate beforehand was brilliant. Also hoping to snag myself a pretty dagger from Tod whenever I get the chance, what a talented bunch!

[@tods_workshop]

Thanks ReddyUp ad James - it was a pleasure

[@ivanjednobiegowiec7656]

... and some dipstick already disliked it? Forheavensake why? You've been shown remarkable technique from ages and ages ago that continue to mesmerize people. With it's beauty, ingenuity and simplicity. You sad, sad person... Absolute joy of watching skilled craftsman converting material into piece of art!!! Cheers! I.

[@Kanner111]

9 minutes that just blazed by, clearly bringing this back was the right call. Such a pretty sword, such a skilled blademaker.

[@ScottKenny1978]

This was a good call, Tod! I was amazed at how that blade looked.

[@j.c.duncan5478]

So was I. ;)

[@petergerdes1094]

I don't understand how you can stay all of humble, sane, calm and friendly when you are a KZbin creator with KZbin comments. I mean surely there is someone being really mean in comments right now. Well however u do it it's appreciated. Great stuff. This is one of my favorites.

[@ljharris5823]

I wont lie... thats the probably one the the top 2 best viking swords ive seen, ever.

[@megahamartolos6638]

Many thanks. The demonstration with plasticine showed the internal helix pattern that my primitive, two-dimensional mind could not otherwise comprehend.

[@CarlosRodriguez-dd4sb]

Tod is fortunate to know and work with some phenomenal artisans and craftsmen. We are fortunate to know Tod by this channel and reap the benefits and knowledge of all involved.

[@tods_workshop]

Indeed you are right, I a totally privileged to know a long list of amazing people

[@881buddha]

One of the best videos you’ve put out sir.

[@legacyShredder1]

I'm probably never going to do this in my lifetime, but I'll watch you do it every time you upload it.

[@Steve-lh8by]

I've been on one of Owen's courses at his workshop and it was fantastic, learnt so much in two days, highly recommend it.

[@PeterDalling]

I could watch this sort of stuff for hours. I was lucky enough to do Woodwork, Metalwork and Pottery in school (they were part of the curriculum back in the early 1970's). I just wish I had been able to take up a career in one of them. More of this please Tod.

[@raijinmeister]

Wonderful video. By Crom, what a beautiful blade.

[@keithallardice6139]

Fascinating!! So glad you uploaded this Tod, great content - thank you.

[@tods_workshop]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@euansmith3699]

1:24 I like the engineer's thumb plaster; a bit of insulation tape will keep most things in place. 4:04 Mmmm, I fancy a Bakewell Tart now. 8:28 The idea of promoting the book by getting a sword made is really neat. It certainly generates some multi-media advertising potential.

[@j.c.duncan5478]

I thought it was a neat idea too! The bonus is I get to keep that gorgeous sword by my desk. for... you know... when I need it for stuff.

[@euansmith3699]

@@j.c.duncan5478 Fantastic 😍 Letter opening on giant royalty checks, I hope.

[@matthayward7889]

@@j.c.duncan5478 like negotiating with publishers? The book sounds great, by the way!

[@j.c.duncan5478]

@@matthayward7889 So the first agent I talked to did immediately suggest that taking it into a pitch meeting would be super cool but that also it would leave them with a vague sense that they shouldn't say no.

[@matthayward7889]

@@j.c.duncan5478 just ordered a copy for my dad (sadly just the book, not the sword)

[@neal4711]

Thanks for sharing, I could watch that power hammer all day. 👍

[@ReaperCH90]

I'm a guy who gardly crafts anything these days, but I really like KZbin videos in which something gets created

[@mrchuffy8320]

I'm very fortunate to have a sword with a Owen blade and a Tod hilt. It's a thing of beauty.

[@margoparts6419]

That sword at the end is just magnificient piece of art and craftmanship - amazing! (Y) (Y)

[@EkErilaz]

Meaning of the runes on the sword: "Geyr Garmr mjǫk fyr Gnípahelli" (Garm bays loudly before Gnipahellir) "Ljós á norðan" (Northern Light)

[@caitlinomalley80]

thank you, I was hoping someone had translated it.

[@Tom_Quixote]

It's full of runic spelling errors though..

[@mikurusagawa6897]

Bring the popcorn, Tod again made a video about a skill none of us will ever use!

[@angrypotato_fz]

I'm glad you decided to publish more of this material! Thank you, Tod :)

[@ricebrown1]

I love your channel. Thank you for entertaining and educating us.

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Tod , and Owen .

[@LCantwell]

I could have watched another hour of that........Would love to see some more collaboration with Owen

[@QuantumHistorian]

Oooh, just what I asked for the other time Owen came on! If this can be a co-operative series where you go over the other steps of historical steel manufacturing (ie, bloomery, crucible, blast furnace, reducing/increasing carbon content, homogenising, tempering/annealing/quenching, case hardening, and all the others I don't know about) I would be sooo happy. It's really hard to fine videos/texts that explains in any detail how this was done historically. Either they assume I have a degree in metallurgy, or given only a one sentence summary of what it is. The history of technology and metallurgy feels like a rich topic that had wide ranging impact, but I simply havent found any way of learning about it.

[@martintroy910]

Yes it's a subject you can get right nerdy about. Check out The Pattern-Welded Blade: Artistry in Iron by Jesus Hernandez an excellent book on the subject of pattern welding.

[@shotou]

I need a volume two! That novel was so good!

[@j.c.duncan5478]

Should be December this year! Its finished, its just in editing and cover and formatting and market planning and....

[@ivyssauro123]

This is absolutely amazing, honestly one of the most insightful and interesting videos I've ever seen ont his site. Thank you so much Tod, the work you do (Both swordmaking and videomaking) is priceless.

[@jamesgoacher1606]

I am reminded of the Blacksmith making me a Chisel as an Apprentice Electrician around about 1962/3 I think with the Blacksmit touching the steel with his (relatively) small hammer and the Striker bringing down a much bigger one. It is obviously a while now but I recall being suprised by the questions about how I wanted it to finish up. I thought it was just bashing things. I was young.

[@jm9371]

That blade is WOW!

[@suedavenport7793]

Some things are just too beautiful for words!

[@Carrick1973]

That's freaking gorgeous!

[@MavenPolitic]

Very happy with the sword I bought from Owen :-)

[@stevemackelprang8472]

Great demonstration and explanation thank you! and btw the book is good and am looking forward to the next " installment."

[@xandervampire195]

Hey Tod, bought a Dirk from you which just arrived today and I absolutely love it! You do fantastic work, thank you. I'll definitely be back on your website to buy more stuff in the future. :)

[@ljharris5823]

The runes on the guard sell me on it fkn well done man!

[@kevincolwell9575]

Owen is a hell of a man. Plus great at what he does. (mumbles, "but more complicated" almost under his breath).

[@tods_workshop]

Good company and a great friend too

[@vladimirkovacevic1656]

beautiful viking sword

[@blackwater4707]

I'd love to do one of his courses just for more insight into the process because I'm never going to be a blacksmith, but from a writers perspective. It's on the list.

[@tods_workshop]

He has a very good rep for courses

[@dasdexus3889]

great pattern great beard great video

[@GrandDungeonDad]

Sooo incredibly cool. I want to make one of these!

[@ChIGuY-town22_]

Good stuff, metal working is so much fun.

[@andytopley314]

Please tell me there will be a Part 2 about the hilt! Great stuff, really made it look so simple and explained it so clearly.

[@strydyrhellzrydyr1345]

That is some good.. quality work.. wow

[@Schizoid137]

Awesome video.

[@ironanvil1]

I did always wonder how the smith could visualise the process of achieving some of the precise elaborate patterns. It's a really elegantly simple mechanism of "prototyping".

[@tods_workshop]

Yes, very simple

[@Smallathe]

Wonderful demonstration. Thanks!

[@fredygump5578]

Respect for Tod's diy bandage!

[@tods_workshop]

I can never find a plaster; I get through them fast

[@tabletopgeneralsde310]

Looks great, very nice smith work

[@charlestellis7021]

Thank you 👍

[@alicelund147]

The Riddle of Steel.

[@dieselbiggins]

Wow that’s amazing! I want that knife he used and I most definitely want that sword 🗡

[@euansmith3699]

Indeed, that plasticine chopping knife is a beauty.

[@martintroy910]

That's one of Owen's kitchen knives if Im not mistaken. He makes them quite often and there are likely some available on his site now.

[@karllambert2350]

Amazing work

[@thegeneral123]

I knew instantly that was an Owen Bush blade!

[@jamielondon6436]

What a beauty!

[@stephenrogers7505]

Gorgeous.

[@hullinstruments]

I’m in my mid-30s, and began learned making Damascus when I was about 15… can I just say…Jesus Christ it’s wonderful to have access to a press when doing this. Obviously it can be done with no power tools, whether it be press or power hammer. But good Lord a press makes things so much more cohesive and easier.

[@columh1589]

I like the knife he used to cut the plasticine

[@Vlavir]

The historical difficulty lies in: 1) not welding the edges of the steel-layer package but wrap it to hold the layers in place 2) using a coal forge (and hold the right temperature and see when it's time to hammer the package) not a gas forge. 3) don't use modern automatic hammers/presses The results of what we see today when a new "damascus/welding" video comes up are (usually) great, no question about that. But it's not a small part of the work that the new (today used) machines take over from the working person. It's a big part. So the intention of this video here was not to show how "hard" it is or to be historical correct. It's a modern explanation of how to (today) make pattern welding. Therefore there is nothing to criticize about the video itself. It brings the main information on point and that's great. But to explain what I meant with the difficulties at first: - Without welding the edges of the steel package it must be wrapped by wire or organic layers. If you do so it might happen that the package won't keep it's form. - Using a coal forge contains 2 main difficulties: 1) no constant temperature like a gas forge (you have to take care of the coal, the air flow etc.) 2) it's harder to see when the steel package reached the right temperature to be forged. - Using a press to form a solid block out auf the steel layers also is a big simplification of the historical process. You have to consider that the press presses the whole surface of the package while with the historical hammering method the package will be formed to a solid block during multiple hammer strokes. During this hammer strokes the layers of the package might deform...there might be air inclusions etc.. A modern press mostly get rid of that problem by just pressing the whole thing in once.

[@charlesballiet7074]

they had water wheel driven power hammers back as early as roman times. also seartch "platters" or platten men, aka they had an entire industry to make steel billots and even sheets of metal that could be cut and forged into armor ect. There is also lots of records of metal purchases and receipts and they do list different grade of steels.

[@martintroy910]

To add to Charles' point setting the weld actually doesnt require a huge amount of force. Your large forces are just required to move the resultant block into a more usable form. it would have been charcoal rather than coal and there are methods of manipulating the fuel in such a way that you can in fact clearly see what you're doing and when the right temps are reached and other visual clues that can be used even if direct view of the billet is hidden by the fuel.

[@gallardoguitar]

Just one thing to add: usually, the blade edges were from a high carbon steel, and they were put in place latter, again by welding, like they do with axes, etc. Again, it's harder to do that, rather than forging the whole sword from one piece (but, of course, it's better for a functional blade).

[@danieltokar1000]

Yes , modern work is "different" Some things are easier , some harder because of the modern materials and fuels but it takes skill to do it either way. I can say this because I have made swords both ways, 42 years as a blacksmith / bladesmith. It comes down to , what are you after as an end point?. Is the point to have an accurate as possible copy of an ancient weapon , down to the materials and methods , or is it to make a handsome usable weapon in the spirit of an old style. Economics is a problem , To go all the way back to making the iron and steel blooms from bog iron ore using charcoal in a small bloomery furnace would add 100 hours to a sword, Who would pay for the time? I like Todd and his friends , low BS and normal egos, skilled and not just talking to sell their goods. Daniel Tokar The Willow Forge

[@gallardoguitar]

@@danieltokar1000 well, I agree with you, but also I think that is not bad to talk about the historical methods when the thing is not "pattern welding" but "viking pattern welding", and for educational purposes maybe it would be great to see the process all by the ancient methods and tools. I do medieval shoes, for example (not for living, I'm a musician) and, when I work at home, I use modern knifes, needles and augers but, when I make a pair of shoes to show the historical way, I use all the historical tools. Once the shoes are finished, they look exactly the same, but the process... well, I think that's the point, and it doesn't take away ANY of the skills this man have. And another thing I don't do very well is speaking English, so sorry if I sound "rude" or something ;)

[@vipertwenty249]

I suspect the original reason for pattern welding had more to do with reliability issues with the welds than looks - but the looks took over and made it popular. The twisting would mean there would only be relatively short runs of weld in any section of the blade, so a weld not fully taking would be a bit less of a issue than it would be if it were a long weld such as in the Japanese tradition. As time moved on through the heroic age of the migration period and into the early medieval period the techniques had probably improved enough that the decorative effects were more significant by then.

[@lynnettejalufka2682]

Awesome!

[@haldorasgirson9463]

That was entrancing. Thank you. I'm suddenly feeling undereducated because I can't read runic. Funny, I never felt that way about Kanji. I was totally ok about not being able to read it.

[@Tom_Quixote]

Don't worry, the guy who wrote the inscription wasn't that literate in runic either :)

[@desdicadoric]

Very interesting indeed

[@stepbruv8780]

*GLORIOUS VIKING STEELS FOLDED FOR 10 THOUSAND TIMES*

[@docschro6847]

Seeing the Plasticine wirk give me ideas for cosplay prop purposes, i can't believe i never thought about making Damascus patterns from Plasticine

[@brianreddeman951]

Even more impressive are rifle barrels made that way; especially considering the pressures they have to contain. Used to do makume gane ( same process) using gold, silver and copper. Love watching people who've mastered it. :)

[@euansmith3699]

Where the rifle barrels drilled from a block of pattern welded steel?

[@brianreddeman951]

@@euansmith3699 I'm not sure but from the examples I've seen (some dating back to the 18th century) the barrels are probably a single billet that's shaped and bored out.

[@tods_workshop]

Euan, No they were not. They were made from pattern welded strip, coiled around a mandrel and forge welded into tubes

[@euansmith3699]

@@tods_workshop Oh, cool. Thank you.

[@euansmith3699]

@@brianreddeman951 I just googled pattern welded gun barrels, and they are gorgeous. 😍 I didn't know that they were a thing. Thanks for pointing them out.

[@captainflint8412]

Nice Damascus !

[@popperjon9147]

Owen is a 🧙‍♂️

[@chrischris5081]

Another possible reason people started doing this, is that it definitively showed that the blade really was made from multiple layers of metal. Anyone can claim it is multiple layers, but those shows it.

[@ivyssauro123]

7:12 The sparks!

[@AlmostSilent08]

Amazing!

[@timseguine2]

Somewhat glad you didn't use the word "Damascus steel" to describe this like so many people do.

[@gerry343]

I was just about to put exactly the same comment. So many KZbinrs beat together chainsaw blades and call it Damascus.

[@Landogarner83]

Why not? "damascus steel" is the correct term for any patterned steel. As far as it is possible to find out, the origin of the term is taken over from the patterned cloth damask (which in turn traces its name to the city Damascus again) So "damascus" steel is simply patterned steel.

[@martintroy910]

@@Landogarner83 Not strictly true. True damascus is a crucible steel traditionally called wootz also called watered steel. where the pattern was formed by dendritic carbides as opposed to mixed steel laminates.

[@timseguine2]

@@Landogarner83 It might be a defacto standard term for any patterned steel now in modern times. And plenty of blacksmiths will have you believe exactly what you just wrote. But historically it is a specific type of crucible steel made from a specific alloy that happens to have a similar wavy pattern when etched. The exact properties and production are still debated, but if it isn't crucible steel, then it definitely isn't Damascus steel, and you can only achieve optically similar looking but metallurgically distinct steel by using pattern welding.

[@Landogarner83]

@@martintroy910 and @Tim Seguine There is no historic indication at all that the term "Damascus steel" has any connection to wootz other than that it is a subtype of it. In fact all indications are that this is false. The connections of patterns with Damascus comes from the cloth damask that was produced in Damascus in large amounts and imported into europe as far back as the early middle ages. Because of that long history the connection of Damascus with patterns is so pronounced that a lot of languages even use it in various forms to describe something as patternd. For example "damascene" The idea that "Damascus steel" was originally used for imported wootz is actually really new and has lately got a lot of traction over the internet. And with that of course a drive to correct everyone. But in the end that idea is only a "modern myth" and has nothing to do with truth, fact or history.

[@888johnmac]

pattern welding , often a pretty random pattern .. but always beautiful

[@martintroy910]

That completely depends on the smith. You can quite easily plan the pattern you intend to get at the end. Particularly with experience.

[@Tom_Quixote]

Could they have had something like those forge pressing machines in the old days too? Something with a large heavy weight being lifted by geared pulleys and released by pulling a lever maybe.

[@angryredcom]

I appreciate that the power hammer replicates assistants with hammers, but how did smiths of the time go about grinding off the surface material? Hand filing?

[@j.c.duncan5478]

Chisels, various roughnesses of stones, and a ton of time! (and probably some other methods that are lost to us)

[@kovona]

Files weren't in common use until the late medieval era in Europe, before that they will usually use abrasive stones for that sort of work.

[@EdwinDueck]

Very nice work, love this pattern work.

[@Tommiart]

Tis a fine thing.

[@marinabrennecke5495]

The blade looks very heavy and thick, but nice pattern. I will try it next year and forge my second sword. How many tons has the forging press?

[@stuartburns8657]

Had booked a 5 day sword making workshop with Owen but Covid put an end to that mid 2020 :(

[@stevesyncox9893]

Cool

[@LuxisAlukard]

Great!

[@Harry-x4n]

Like was briefly mentioned in the film, it's remarkably similar to what the Japanese were doing with their steel, including the coating of something to protect from oxidization. And twisting being similar to folding. I wonder how much they actually knew about what was going on, and how much of it was simply "we know this happens when we do that." It reminds me of your experiments with the beeswax on the arrowheads.

[@martintroy910]

From reading a lot of older sources on the subject not much. There seems to be a lot of 'Well we did this and the steel turned out good so that's how you make good steel' You'll find mentions of facing north while quenching or quenching in the urine of a redheaded virgin boy. They didnt have the tools to understand what was happening chemically and to be honest metallurgy on the whole is a relatively recent science.

[@jonajo9757]

I kind of remember the difference of pattern welding and folding, so I'll get into my points on folding first. Despite folding being seen as a uniquely Japanese method for historical steel making, the practice was just actually a common way to consolidate steel whether you were using steel from a bloomery or blast furnace. It's purpose was to work out impurities, and give the steel a uniform carbon distribution due to processes such as turning pig iron (essentially cast iron) into desirable steel in a finery forge, and the same being done to iron or mild steels enriched with carbon. For patternwelding however, I may have to look into it again, but I just know that patternwelding could be for aesthetic purposes where you compromise the material by using phosporus rich metal.

[@timrobinson513]

What did they use for flux in ancient times?

[@andrewrichbell]

What would they have used to grind the block historically? Or would they have used a different method to reveal the pattern? Perhaps 'cutting' the block while it's hot?

[@martintroy910]

Grinding wheels. Large diameter wheels of stone of different grit count. Often water, animal or human powered.

[@Jarjar-zv5be]

Im wondering as well. Grinding into the bar seems like an awful waste of metal in a historical setting?

[@martintroy910]

@@Jarjar-zv5be And yet it was done. Im a bladesmith and the method I mentioned above is how they did it. Not a guess.

[@knightshousegames]

Just out of curiosity, is this something you could do with different metals? not necessarily to create an alloy, but could you take layers of say steel and titanium or aluminum or something like that and do something similar to this?

[@athorneau1439]

so how would they have held the different pieces together without electric welding the pile together? Some other bloke with pliers?

[@the1andonlySherlock]

Alright, now do wootz. (btw, if you havent already seen the channel, FZ Knives has awesome videos showing how wootz knives are made)

[@tods_workshop]

Owen can and does make Wootz, but that is not what this film was about.....

[@the1andonlySherlock]

@@tods_workshop All I meant was that it would be cool to see a video showing how wootz is made, and how it differs from pattern welding, since there is still a lot of misconceptions about what we do and do not know about wootz.

[@nelumbonucifera7537]

How long would it take to grind away all that material with grinding tools of the period, rather than modern abrasives and a power tool? They'd also need use a larger billet to make up for the lost material - requiring more bloom, fuel and labor to forge it. Seems like a fair bit of added expense - only worthwhile for high status objects?

[@thehopperhopes6365]

Thank You for saying Pattern Welding and not using the D word. Then again you would have Shadversity on your case LOL. I presume thats a langsaex , it looks wonderful.

[@zenhydra]

I find it fascinating to contemplate how etching a pattern-welded blade must have originated. Something mildly acidic might have come in contact with a metal implement and reveled a different coloration between non-homogenous iron alloys. Then someone with the metallurgical understanding to interpret this phenomenon must have inspected this result of pure happenstance, and correctly deduce what had occurred. Perhaps after a few experiments they figured out a repeatable process, and then ran with it. Another possibility that comes to mind is that corrosive substances may have already been in use for the purposes of etching designs into (or selectively staining) metal objects. A particular blade (or whatever) which was a product of two different sources of iron alloy (maybe a sword with a simple iron core and high carbon steel edges) then had an etchant applied for the established purpose, however this time etching the blade revealed the previously invisible welds. After some repeated efforts the sword-maker was clever enough to deduce the aesthetic applications of this process.

[@Glimmlampe1982]

You can also polish the blade to make the pattern visible. It's just way less prominent. So I guess it was first done by polishing and later through experimentation how to better show the patterns. I think there are textual descriptions about how the dragon or snake in the pattern only reveals itself when breathed upon the blade. I guess like in a highly polished blade on a child morning, when the breath condensates on the metal

[@martintroy910]

Well the pattern would is revealed in the forging and quenching first. The differing composition of the steel means that the scale that forms on the surface is also different and the pattern tends to come out as scale on one steel/iron blows off more easily than the other. Grated as Owen demonstrated the final pattern would be determined by the depth of grinding on the particular billet. When you quench to harden the blade after grinding to final dimensions you get a preview of that final pattern when pulled out of the quenchant. As Gimmlampe says below during the earlier periods of steel and iron production blades were not etched to reveal the pattern and some of the viking sagas talk about breath on the blade revealing the pattern. As far as I remember its not known if during the later viking period if the blades were acid etched to reveal the pattern but it could also have been revealed by corrosion, particularly salt water.

[@ivanfiodorov6429]

it's quite cool

[@davekingrey1009]

I've always wondered how they held the pieces of steel together to forge weld them without a modern welder to tack them all together before you put it in the forge to do the actual forge welding. I did see one smith use metal hose clamps like you'd use on a radiator hose to hold the billets together until you get the forge weld to stick, but they didnt have those back then either. So what did they use? Wire? Seems like metal wire would have been hard enough to make that it wouldnt be convenient to keep a stock of that around just to destroy it every time you make a blade. But maybe I'm wrong. Also I know sometimes they would fold steel over its self and forge weld it that way but you need two different kinds of steel to get a good pattern. So how did they do it? How did they hold the peices together before the forge welding actually takes place?

[@Bentheriault1]

man that's nice

[@GeorgiaRidgerunner]

Wowee these kind of videos make me jealous we dont have many blacksmiths here in america

[@tods_workshop]

?????? There are loads and far more than here

[@GeorgiaRidgerunner]

@@tods_workshop are you sure i havent seen many here

[@daveh3997]

@@GeorgiaRidgerunner Here are 114 bladesmiths, www.americanbladesmith.org/master-bladesmiths/ Here are 100+ swordsmiths--most are here in the USA www.wisepeasants.com/custom-sword-maker/

[@GeorgiaRidgerunner]

@@daveh3997 Wow i hade no idea there were so many here in the usa

[@samnottheotherone4363]

Tod I was wondering what kind of steel you use in your reproduction knives and daggers on Tod Cutler. I looked but I may have missed it.

[@tods_workshop]

EN45 0.7% spring

[@samnottheotherone4363]

Interesting. I looked at the composition and it looks similar to 5160 which makes sense because spring steel. Thanks for the reply, good stuff.

[@Catonius]

'deadly in its spirals'

[@prawnenjoyer]

Amazing that such a simple, basic process can produce such stunning results. Does this process affect the durability of the metal in any noticeable way?

[@martintroy910]

Not in any noticeable way no. You will likely have some carbon loss in the parent steels but on the whole the pattern welded steel will be about as strong as the weaker of the two or more parent steels. Always good to remember when choosing the steels that will go into the pw.

[@soldat88hun]

amazing how he can just do the forging with his hands