Pete,
Öregrund was one of many ports that had scales for weighing iron before it was shipped further. Öregrund port was used heavily by Forsmark Järnbruk, which is one of major Uppland järnbruk. Forsmark is one of Vallonbruk, using iron ore from Dannemora.
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I have yet to see any reference to Vallon iron being sold to makers of Damascus barrels. However, all books I have read focused on major business connections for Vallon iron, that is, with Sheffield. One listing of major markets for Swedish iron of all types, by region, for 1738-1799 shows Nederland (todays Belgium?) never more than 10%, Brittan 48-62%, Baltic lands 15,5% to 22,5%, Latinsk lands, foremost Portugal, took 10%-32% of Sweden's total production of iron rods (only part of which was Vallon iron). Brittan took even larger percentage of Vallon iron production.
Niklas,
Puraye in "Le Damas", 1966, first mentions Swedish iron. Stating it was being used by the Belgians for horse shoe nails, circa 1810-1830. They used these in their damascus barrels of the period.
Claude Gaier in "Cinq Siecles d'Armurerie Liegeoise", 1997, talks about the transition from charcoal fired smelting to coke. He states that the Nessonvaux barrel makers found the Swedish iron to be a good replacement.
I believe Elgood in "Firearms of the Islamic World" , 1995, also mentions Swedish iron in connection with damascus barrel production in Europe.
I know that Bessemer use Swedish iron in his original experiments, because it is free of phosphorous. Later he worked out a way to "burn it off" by adding lime. (Some one correct me here.)
Thanks for the information. It is really helpful. If you run across any more, please share it. I do not read Swedish
Pete
