Damascus-treated Black-Steel blades

C

Crysknife

Joined
Nov 10, 2015
Messages
18
I have a question for the experts on Bladesmithing:

The other day I was looking at a pair of blank Damascus steel Karambit blades and because of the lighting in the picture, I thought the steel was black.

I thought, "Pretty nice.";)

I put serious thought into buying a pair of blades like that - then I realized, they weren't black and the picture was just a bit dim.

A thought occurs to me - would it be possible for someone to make a blade of black steel, and then treat it with techniques to give it that Damascus-steel finish?

Seems like it could be possible, but I want to see what the experts think.

Thanks, guys.
 
"Damascus" is a misnomer in what is actually pattern welded steel. Which speaks directly to the "pattern" you are talking about.

Each piece of pattern welded steel is individual and different, but only due to how the different layers have been heated and welded together. The pattern is just the "face" of the layers in the steel. They are caused by the different rates at which they etch with an and is such as ferric chloride. This etching is what turns the steel(s) a darker or less dark color, usually the lower chromium or nickel content alloys will be darker and conversely the higher ones (usually stainless options) will be the lighter bands of color.

I am sure some others will be along to correct anything I have told that was wrong, but afaik, this is the basics of it.

Good luck and welcome aboard.
 
NJBillK said:
"Damascus" is a misnomer in what is actually pattern welded steel. Which speaks directly to the "pattern" you are talking about.

Each piece of pattern welded steel is individual and different, but only due to how the different layers have been heated and welded together. The pattern is just the "face" of the layers in the steel. They are caused by the different rates at which they etch with an and is such as ferric chloride. This etching is what turns the steel(s) a darker or less dark color, usually the lower chromium or nickel content alloys will be darker and conversely the higher ones (usually stainless options) will be the lighter bands of color.

I am sure some others will be along to correct anything I have told that was wrong, but afaik, this is the basics of it.

Good luck and welcome aboard.
Click to expand...

That's correct, and also, 'black steel' isn't a thing. A blade can be made dark by a variety of processes and methods. For what you describe, a heavily/deeply etched Damascus blade would probably be closest.
 
NJBillK said:
"Damascus" is a misnomer in what is actually pattern welded steel. Which speaks directly to the "pattern" you are talking about.

Each piece of pattern welded steel is individual and different, but only due to how the different layers have been heated and welded together. The pattern is just the "face" of the layers in the steel. They are caused by the different rates at which they etch with an and is such as ferric chloride. This etching is what turns the steel(s) a darker or less dark color, usually the lower chromium or nickel content alloys will be darker and conversely the higher ones (usually stainless options) will be the lighter bands of color.

I am sure some others will be along to correct anything I have told that was wrong, but afaik, this is the basics of it.

Good luck and welcome aboard.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot for the info! :)
 
Even etched dark, how dramatic it looks will be dependent on the direction and intensity of light it's under, in my experience. From some angles the dark parts on this blade look very dark, from others less so:

RDixwtZ.jpg
 
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