Tom: here is Adam's response

The microstructure with nodules (not flakes) of graphite looks like ductile iron (a form of CAST iron). The product has been wrought (rolled and twisted), but I would not call the starting product WROUGHT IRON as that generally describes iron silicates in ferrite and does not have the graphite structure seen here.

Craig: Adam is preparing images upon which he will indicate the important findings.
Hard to know what is 'normal' since no one has ever published photomicrographs of crolle Damascus before smile but everything to the left of the crack is normal. Adam is still working on those lines in the lower right.
He did show me a bunch of images with the yield stress indicators.

Lots more to follow gentlemen, but please keep those thoughts and ideas coming!