To achieve a drawn wire with a tensile strength defined by the equation of Y=Y_o exp(A_2d) wherein Y is the tensile strength in MPa (N/mm²), Y_o is the strength of as patented wire, A₂ is a coefficient dependant on wire chemistry and drawing conditions, and _d is a total true drawing strain, a high carbon steel wire contains 0.95 to 1.3% carbon and a combination of chromium, manganese, silicon, cobalt, niobium, and boron is processed such that the bright wire of an intermediate diameter has a structure void of micro cracks, patented to produce a desired microstructure with defined inter-lamella spacing and austenite grain, coated with brass, and fine drawn with an optimized die draft schedule at a specified true strain.