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Recreating The Lost Art Of Damascus Steel

Posted by Hemos on from the looking-in-the-past-for-the-future dept.

YouAreFatMan writes "The Chicago Tribune has an article about two researchers -- a metallurgist and a blacksmith -- who have apparently been able to reproduce the legendary Damascus steel. 'Islamic artisans used it for centuries to make swords that spurred envy and myths among Europeans--including the legend that a Damascus blade could slice a falling silk scarf in midair.'"

2 of 554 comments (clear)

  1. ..And then created religious laws that forbade it by Ars-Fartsica · · Score: 2, Troll

    They laid the groundwork of knowledge but were unable to reap the rewards out of ignorance of technology and a bizarre unflinching adherance to ancient religious law.

  2. hmmm... by 4n0nym0u53+C0w4rd · · Score: 4, Troll
    From the article:
    For hundreds of years, some of the keenest minds in science sought in vain to tap the secret of how blacksmiths in ancient India and the Middle East fashioned a supremely tough metal known as Damascus steel.

    [snip]

    Although Verhoeven and Pendray have patented their technique...

    Can you say Prior Art?

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