I'm not an expert, but that sounds right (matches what I've read in papers). This page has interesting info. https://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/9809/Verhoev

I'm not an expert, but that sounds right (matches what I've read in papers). This page has interesting info. https://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/9809/Verhoeven-9809.html https://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/9809/Verhoeven-9809.ht... It seems likely 3 factors were important in creating "real" Damascus steel. The key one being the mixture of elements in the raw ore that specifically came from the mines in a specific region of southern India, and once that ore ran out the "secret was lost". There's also the knowledge of the forging process - namely the temperatures, heat treatment processes used, and what organics (aka carbon) got mixed in.