Differential Tempering of Helms

[Agincourt]

Ok, just batting this idea around my head.

What if, one were to build a helm out of stainless, spring steel, or some other heat treatable material. Then we harden the helm.

Now, after hardening the thing, we use a torch to draw a temper in little circles all over the helm in a semi even pattern (Think soccer ball) We heat the little circles to the proper color and then quench the area.

Intent is to have a network of hard steel, suspending circles of softer and more ductile steel.

This is just metalurgical musing, I would like to know some of your thoughts/opinions on this. Would it be benificial, would it be dooable, would it be worth the work ect.

My armouring has mostly of given way to blacksmithing, I have seriously gotten into the fine art of hardening and drawing a temper so I am really jazzed on the subject, trying to mentally apply it to armour.

[Stacy Elliott]

Perhaps I am really slow today, but WHY would you want to do this?

Stacy