Damascus questions

T

tique

Joined
Oct 28, 2000
Messages
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I have been playing/collecting knives for most of my life, and I have gotten a good bit more serious now that I am in college. One area that I know almost nothing about is damascus steel. I have been trying, with little success, to find information on it. All I basically know now is that there are many varities, and compositions, but I don't know anything about how well they perform.
I would appreciate any links that would tell me about the various forms of damascus and how well the perform in a user, as well as having a some pics of the more decorative varities. I am looking at getting some custom work done in the near future and am debating having a damascus blade, but I don't know what composition or patterns world be best.

Thanks in advance,
Tique
 
Tique, A damascus blade, if done properly, will perform as well as a blade of one kind of steel. Damascus will be a mixture of two or more metals that are randomly mixed or manipulated to give a certain pattern. Damascus is also called pattern welded steel. The more dramatic the pattern and more folding and twisting and such, the more expensive it is to buy.
I would stick with the high and medium carbon mixes. Examples are but not limited to: 5160, 10XX, L6, 01, 15N20, 52100, and What ever would keep the carbon content at about .7% to .8%. The more folds, the closer the layers will be. My personel likes are about 500 to 600 layers per inch of thickness of blade and that would be about 80 layers per 1/8".
I hope that this has helped some. They are definitely beautiful to me.

------------------
Ray Kirk
http://www.tah-usa.net/raker
 
Don't forget about the REAL damascus, Wootz. This ain't no pattern welded steel, as it is a crucible melted steel, also called crystalline damascus. It is very beautiful and has some strange properties, like superflexibility, which makes it a superiour blade steel. To my knowledge there are 3 groups/people making Wootz today. Al Pendray in the USA, a group around Heimo Roselli in Finland and a group of russian guys.

If interested, read this please:

http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/9809/Verhoeven-9809.html#ToC3

Achim

[This message has been edited by AchimW (edited 12-27-2000).]
 
I'm really appreciative of the info so far, has been helpful.
Just thought I'd send it back to the top to see if anyone has anything else to add.
 
tique, I usually have more to say about pattern welded steel, but your question is rather open ended and a good answer would run on for pages, not to mention the fact that I have recently spent a lot of time writing about this topic.

The basics are:

1. Modern 'damascus' steel should really called pattern-welded steel. The original 'Damascus' steel should really be called Wootz steel (look at this thread for the reason: Recent custom forum thread about Damascus steel).

2. The purpose of pattern welding is primarily aesthetic, usually not performing any better than the harder of the two steels used in its making. Most pattern welded steel is made from non-chromium steels. It is Not stainless. There are a couple of makers who produce 'stainless damascus' steels.

3. Not all damascus is made the same or take the same amount of time to produce. Some makers produce better stuff than others.

4. It will function well for use, but most folks have a hard time actually using damascus steel blades. Use may significantly change their appearance, much like any other carbon steel blade.

Please look at the linked threads above, and look at the links in them. There is a ton of really good info right there. Searching this forum and the custom forum will also produce a wealth of threads about damascus steel.

I would also recommend ABS Mastersmiths Ed Caffrey and Don Fogg's web sites for more information on the making and purpose of pattern-welded steel.

Happy reading!
smile.gif


Paracelsus

[This message has been edited by Paracelsus (edited 12-28-2000).]
 
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