Advantages of Damascus, besides looking pretty? (Pattern Welded)

Too many factors involved to give a simple answer to your question. Materials used in the damascus, heat treat, etc..... All that can make the difference between an ok blade and a superior blade.
 
Well, can it be made superior? I'm bascally talking about Devin Thomas's and Thunderforged stuff.
 
There is a thoery about the Damascus cutting effect, where the two steels together are supposed to make one superior one, but no research has been done, so it's still just a thoery. Of course, there's just the basic idea of forging making it better too, another debate...
 
The layering or folding of steel historically was a purifying process. The forging worked out the impurities and the piece usually had serrated cutting ability. Japanese smiths separate the high from the lower carbon tamahagane. The high carbon material was scarcest so it was reserved for the edge material in San Mai construction. Today we have vaccuum smelted, powder metallurgy, bottom pours and hot isothermal presses. We can make more homogenous exotic alloys today better than has ever been done on a commercial basis. But,..there are always tradeoffs. There is no one perfect cutlery steel manufactured. The size of the blade and the use determine the best steel for the design. For example: H1 is better in salt water. One can achieve modern synergy with the right combination of materials in San Mai construction, that will out preform homogenous steel in larger pieces in particular. Incredible heat treats can be achieved in damascus pieces. Shollow and deep harding materials can be combined to produce a practically indestructable piece, that probably won't cut as well as a homogenous but exceptional steel....I hope this helps...Take Care...Ed
 
From strictly a user's standpoint, damascus (properly forged) holds an excellent edge and is very easily maintained & resharpened. Plus it seems to really cut aggressively when skinning. I love the stuff for skinning and cutting up meat.
 
In my opinion pattern welding today is exclusively for it's aesthetic value. There's nothing that a pattern welded blade can do that a homogenous steel blade can't do performance wise at a fraction of the cost.
 
Triton said:
In my opinion pattern welding today is exclusively for it's aesthetic value. There's nothing that a pattern welded blade can do that a homogenous steel blade can't do performance wise at a fraction of the cost.
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I agree, but that aesthetic value is the whole key. That is why damascus is popular with a great many people. It can work every bit as well as the other top knife steels and it also makes the knife stand out from the crowd.

Here is a great site to learn more about damascus steel. They have a great links page.

http://damascus.free.fr/
 
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