Originally Posted By: PeteM
Eventually the steel making improved and the need which had created the desire for damascus ceased.

Pete


Once again it was all about economics. Steel making became cheaper and steel rails for trains were installed closer to water transport, closer to the mines on a global scale which lead to a choice of a specific raw material, closer to the retailer. The raw product was mined, transported and converted with less labour involved which lowered the overall cost. So now you have a tube material that requires much less hand labor which in turn cost less and that started to quelled the desire for pattern welded tubes but many were skeptical on the new fangled "fluid" steel.

Kind Regards,

Raimey
rse

Last edited by ellenbr; 08/26/08 08:00 AM.