Previous studies have attempted to correlate the results of metallography with neutron diffraction studies on the very high-carbon steels used in Oriental blades. Japanese sword blades supplied by the Stibbert Museum, Florence, and Indian sword blades (made of wootz or the so-called ¿Damascus Steel") supplied by the Wallace Collection, London, have been examined, with interesting results.We would like to extend our investigations into European swords, which generally have far lower carbon contents, but higher proportions of martensite, than Oriental swords. We have a number of swords of identifiable origins. Examination by metallography has already been carried out, and the proportions of the different phases present, viz. cementite as massive cementite, pearlite, and tempered martensite, will enable neutron diffraction lattice parameters for cementite to be calibrated.