Tim McCoy Posted November 12, 2010 Share Posted November 12, 2010 Saw this article about a 4th century steel punch - thought you would find it interesting too. Article says it was broken in use. Wonder if the guy was learning heat treating and got this one wrong?? http://www.wkfinetools.com/cCorner/art/shorts/europeOldesIron.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfootnampa Posted November 12, 2010 Share Posted November 12, 2010 It was not a nail! Not likely heat treated either. More modern wrought iron can have up to 2 percent carbon so I do NOT see that as any evidence of steel making technology. Methinks the find is over hyped. It does not appear broken from what I can see in the picture either... could have been a chisel or caulking iron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fciron Posted November 12, 2010 Share Posted November 12, 2010 Ditto! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted November 12, 2010 Share Posted November 12, 2010 The bloomery process can produce pretty much anything from cast iron to zero carbon wrought iron (and will often create a range of carbon contents in a single bloom!) 6th Century Romans???? We they time traveling? Seems like a typically hyped and erroneous popular media article. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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