The International Wootz Society is a guild of artisans who make wootz and crucible steel from all over the world. Formed in 2021 our goals are to support the wootz and crucible steel community, promote the craft and educate the wider community about this wonderful, mysterious and often misunderstood historical material.
Ways that we do this is through:
- Members Only Forum on this website,
- Members Only Crucible Charge Calculator
- Material analysis testing services
- Public Podcasts,
- Public Articles on Wootz
- Public Presentations on Wootz
- Open Wootz Competitions,
- Members Awards
- Certification Levels for Members
What is Wootz?
Wootz is a steel which was made far back in ancient history, and although how far back is disputed, the earliest artifacts of this steel date from around the first century AD. Some scholars believe however that this legendary steel was given to Alexander the Great during his campaign in India which began in 327 BC.
Throughout history this steel has been made in India, Persia, the areas of the Ottoman Empire and other regions in Central and reportedly far Western Asia. The lumps of this steel, called ingots were traded far and wide for several thousand years and these ingots were then forged out into blades, armour, tools and utensils displaying beautifully watered or crystalline patterns by a myriad of smiths. It has been called by many names, Hindwani, Wootz, Utsa, Pulad, Bulat, Foulad, among others depending on the local language or tradition. The most commonly known name for this steel today is Wootz.
It is a small volume steel making process where the ingredients are melted and solidified in the same crucible, forming an ingot. Conforming to specific historical ranges of chemistry, it is a low alloy ultra high carbon steel which produces one of several traditional patterns upon proper forging and heat treatment.
Our Society
Thought to be lost by most, the making of this steel is now kept alive by many artisans all over the globe who treasure the history and mystery of this material. The members of the International Wootz Society engage in making both historical and modern versions of wootz including recreating the processes and patterns of the ancient steel. Through the use of scientific tools and understanding, coupled with hard won experience at the forge, they are uncovering the methods and mindsets of some of the ancient masters.
Public Services
- Testing of ferris metals, wootz, crucible steel, wrought iron, pig iron etc.
$60 for non-members
$40 for members USD per test. Excluding postage costs
- Book a lecture on the topic of Wootz Steel, historical talks.
Please Read Our Constitution Here
President (Co Founder)
Tim Mitchell (Australia) 
From Buffalo River Forge and Alpha Omega Knives was born in Australia and moved to the US in 1993 where he finished school. During this time he became interested in blacksmithing and bladesmithing, forming a friendship with a local blacksmith legend Ken Sharabok. It was while volunteering with Ken at the ’99 SOFA convention that he met Howard Clark and saw his first crucible steel blade. He had caught the bug and soon went on to be mentored by Al Pendray in his method and metallurgy knowledge.
Over the last two decades he has mentored other smiths, passing on his knowledge to the younger generation. He has contributed heavily to the subject of wootz steel making and history on bladesmithing forums and he has been the Admin of the Wootz Steel FB group and other private wootz chat groups for quite a few years. His passion in helping other smiths in their journey and to unlock the mysteries of the deep history, performance and patterning of the ancient crucible steel, led to the birth of the International Wootz Society in 2021.
Historical Officer (Co Founder)
Jin Singh (United Kingdom) 
Descends from a family of traditional Indian blacksmiths. His Grandfather worked with fulad (wootz) and was the main influence for Jin getting involved with blacksmithing and wootz steel.
Founder of Wootz Militaria, arguably one of the most trusted organisations for the restoration of antique arms & armour, is respected all over the world by collectors, institutions & museums and has worked on thousands of wootz swords.
He has been a Consultant for television channels such as the BBC and The History Channel (Forged in Fire). He is one of last traditional Indian Wootz Smiths involved in making and forging Wootz steel. As a Sikligar (Indian Weapons maker) he has a wealth of knowledge on how ancient weapons were made using wootz steel. He is an active collector of Indo Persian arms & armour and promotes active research in the field. Jin is also one of the very few practitioners of the traditional weapons based martial art of Shastar Bidiya.
Secretary
Sebastian Szukalski B.Sc, M.Phil (Australia)
Is a collector of antique swords with an academic interest in the area of archeo-metallurgy of crucible steel. He has a focus for the application of modern mass spectrometry and radioisotyping and how it can be used for the analysis and dating of crucible steel artefacts.
Being an academic and a collector he brings a greatly appreciated scientific and research based facet to the Society Board.
Our Story
Two heads are better than one and a society is even better!
The most active Wootz smiths, researchers and historians got together to help build a society around the mysterious steel that is called wootz!