Hello

I have a question about pattern welding.We all know that this technique was popular in early medieval times.Than better quality steel allowed to produce decent weapons cheaper and faster without it.
I remember Peter Johnsson said something like that(but my memory may be wrong): bladesmiths still were useing pattern welding in later times, but not in combat weapons, but for decorative, hunting etc. pieces.

Are there any examples of pattern welded european weapons from 13-15 century ?

No specifics, but I have heard pattern welding remained in use at least somewhat in Scandanavian countries during this time.

Thee is an information in 'Knives and Scabbards' about possible patern welded knife from the late 14c. (page 16)

You are right this technology was marginal after 12 century. But in Russia was used until 15 century.
This matter you can better study in polish books (Piaskovsky) or Kolocin, Pleiner.

Any pictures of known after 13century examples?I couldn't find any in the internet nor in my books...

The only cases I know of pattern welding being used in a high medieval context (in wester europe) is in some knives. You will find a few illustrated in "Knives and Scabbards , medieval finds from excavations i London".

Thanks Peter.Those examples I know.
But what about central and eastern Europe? What about the Byzantine Empire?
Gary Teuscher mentioned Scandinavia.They had strong tradition in pattern welding indeed.Did they let it disappear?

http://gladius.revistas.csic.es/index.php/gla...le/146/146 here is an interesting article.

There is an info about six knives from Poland described by Piaskowski "five of which had laminated bodies of alternating stripes of low and high-carbon iron and all with a high carbon cutting edge" (page 2)

I'll try to find that book of Piaskowski.

I know it's not quite 13th.C., but it's such a beautiful depiction, I just had to share.

From the tomb of Geoffrey Plantagenet d.1151.

Cheers,
Michael.

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I briefly looked around, unsuccessfully, to find a paper I had read a few years ago. I think is was Verhoeven that surveyed pattern welded swords from collections and concluded that the tradition sort of faded out around 11th to 14th century. That said, there was still a percentage (decaying rapidly to less than 25%) of swords with X-ray evidence of pattern welded structure. Some late swords have been speculated may have originally been pattern welded. i.e. the 15th century era sword of Joan of Arc was said to have four stars patterned in the metal of the blade. We don't know with certain providence that any present day surviving sword actually was that sword. But, a theory that it was originally a pattern welded blade sounds plausible.

Some blades were re-made like there is a 16th(?) cent. katzbalger w/ a pattern-welded pre-1000 viking blade. some would be rehilted for years to come and some cut down and re-forged into knives

A little late, but this 18th century Venetian schiavona recently at auction had a PW’d blade, not visible in the photo but in person you could see it was layered metal that had been manipulated by the smith.

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