Damascus 101

[Rival]

Can somebody tell me what the Damascus is all about? I mean I understand the concept of making this steel, and historical background... But what are the properties of this steel in day to day use? Does it hold the edge well? Is it tough? How easy it is to sharpen?

I do understand that there are a lot of different Damascus steels around with different properties. I'd like to find out about two of those steels in particular:

Damasteel Damascus (30 twist) (on this knife)
180 layer stainless Damascus from Damasteel Sweden... (this blade)

 

[Tommi]

Damasteel is best SS damascus around if SS san mai damascus is not counted.

Damasteel is made of two good steels RWL-34 (ATS-34/154CM) and PMC27 (Sandvik 12C27). Damasteel makes their damascus of powdersteel version of steels mentioned in bracets --> more refined structure and smaller pores etc... Damasteel will not hold edge as well as RWL-34 but better than PMC27. It takes slightly better edge than 154CM or ATS-34. It is completely hardened compared to most SS damascus steels and thus stain resistance is a bit lover but still better than ATS-34's stain resistance. Surface finish in dam steels is generally smoother than in production ATS-34 blades (bead plasted, stonewashed ...) so it is difficult to distinguish the part of stain resistance that is based on chemical propeties and the other part that depends on surface quality. Damasteel sharpens easier than ATS-34. Propably the best choise for lazy mans EDC damascus steel.

Knives that you mention as exempels in your post are made of same steel - only the pattern is different. Of these two patterns I like more of the rose but the best pattern that is readily available (they sell nonpatterned stock bar for bladesmiths) is their randompattern (IMO of course). I do have a knife with loose twist 5 twist compares to 30 twists in Mr. Doggets knife and I like it better.