Thread: India Steel?

I've been wondering for awhile now and can't find any answers. What exactly is India Steel?

well, IIRC "india steel" IS "wootz" and john primble operated the "india steel works" in Sheffield.

I believe that "India steel" was an advertising moniker from old English makers back in the colonial days as ore was extracted from India and used in everything. It was prevelent in those days. Consumers were led to think that Indian ore produced the finest steel! Perhaps it did! I have several examples which support this!

In this post here, Neil Miller says; "There is (or was), in fact, a fine Indian steel called Wootz. Carbon-rich, India held the monopoly on it for centuries. It was traded all over - at one time it was the finest crucible steel available in the world, and became synonymous with damascas steel. There was a resurgence of interest in wootz in 17th and 19th centuries. Some people (eg Joe Chandler) still use it to make razors."

Regards,
Neil

I agree with Sharptonn in that I think it was advertising. Basing something on the past. Even legends and rumors make things more exciting.

Thanks for the info it shines some light on a razor that I have that has finest india steel engraved on it and I've been curious since