Late modern Europeans were aware of crucible steel, and tried really hard to replicate them - IIRC this involved expeditions to India ? - (and seem to have succeeded) :

https://www.thoughtco.com/wootz-steel-raw-material-damascus-...

https://www.construction-physics.com/p/the-rise-of-steel-par...

https://www.sanskritimagazine.com/tale-crucible-wootz-steel-...