Ran across this article recently and thought it would be of interest to the forum members that forge.
https://craftsmanship.net/the-wootz-hunter/
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Ran across this article recently and thought it would be of interest to the forum members that forge.
https://craftsmanship.net/the-wootz-hunter/
What a character! Invited the king of Jordan to visit anytime :roflmao
Bruno gets / got his wootz from him.
That was interesting video, glad that they made it and published it.
As far as razors (and knives) made from his steel I think he has been pretty selective to whom he has sold it.
I believe that a decade ago one of our members, Joe Chandler, was able to obtain a small amount and made 3 razors out of it. Later Bruno was able to also obtain a small amount and I think I saw somewhere that he used it in may be a razor or two.
Unfortunately, Al Pendray has now passed away but there are still a number of people who make wootz and that's where the current supplies come from. May be there is still a piece of Pendray-made wootz here and there though I doubt it's a meaningful amount.
Thanks for posting this, Richard. I'll remember this remarkable man every time I see a wootz razor.
Yes, thank you for sharing that link. I found some other interesting article on that site as well. The one about the founder of Above the tie razors was also very interesting
Al was a good friend, and is sorely missed.
I may be mistaken but I think Mike Blue was the one that got the last of the Wootz that was made by Al Pendray before the last fire burned his operation down. I believe Mike Blue also did make a few Wootz razors before selling the last of it to Bruno (Snailforge). I am lucky enough to have had Bruno make me a custom fixed blade razor out of Al Pendrays Wootz and another hybryid razor made from Alfred Pendray wootz butt welded to a damascus body.
Mike Lindo
After watching the video, I wanted more info on wootz and found this longer version of a documentary. I’m sure the knife makers and forge artisans are already aware of it, but it was new to me and I wanted to share it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP8PCkcBZU4
Would be good to see the cosmetic difference between Indian , Persian & Damascus Wootz, if any.