Got a Real World Weapons or Armour Question? Mk XI

[Raum]

Well, the thing you can generally see in Japanese blade is layers and layers and layers of the same steel that was folded numerous times.

And not the actual patterns or 'braids' of slightly to very different iron/steel.

Layers instead of patterns, generally.

Yes. The same layers cause bolder patterns when the steel is differentiated and homogenizing isn't your intent.

Japanese swords were laminated steel.

Eh? No. Laminates are made by bonding thin pieces of material together.

Forge welding is simply welding steel* together in the process of forging the piece. Pattern welding is a subset which carries the connotation of going for a bold design in the result. Folding steel is also a subset of forge welding. It's taking the same piece of steel and welding it to itself...many times. Japanese smiths repeated it often enough to homogenize the steel and have extremely fine patterns.

In other words, pattern welding and folding steel are both forge welding.

*There have been pattern welded pieces in bronze also - steel isn't a requirement.