Wellmann Imre szerk.: A Magyar Mezőgazdasági Múzeum Közleményei 1971-1972 (Budapest, 1973)

White, Kenneth D.: The Great Chesterford scythes

PL 2. Cross-section of central portion of blade, showing how it is enclosed by the back-strip, and in turn encloses the cutting-edge section 1. The heterogeneous nature of the material from sample to sample the carbon content being very variable; as Mr. Brown observes, each sample is virtually 'a metallographer's delight'. 2. The blades were made up of three elements: a cutting edge of high carbon content; a back-up strip, and a reinforced outer edge or flange, each of lower carbon content. The three elements, and the divisions between them are clearly visible in the photograph of a portion of one of the blades in section (pi. 2). The various sections were evidently joined together by the process of forge welding, the material being remarkably clean, 'and comparing quite favourably with present day mild steel wrought bar production'. 3. The high and low carbon areas are clearly separated by a line of nonmetallic inclusions. Micrographic analysis has shown well-defined 'barriers' between the areas of high and low carbon content, as well as other features which have thrown further light on the method of manufacture. 4. In particular, research at the Iron and Steel Institute has shown how the smiths solved the problem of uniting the areas of high and low carbon content by folding the high carbon material back over the low carbon structure. This important feature of the process is shown up very clearly in plate 3, where the dark region in the upper right portion of the picture denotes the area of high carbon content. This has evidently been subjected to a process of double-folding between the low carbon backing-strip (the light area in the picture), and held in its grip as by pincers.