A very nice article on Damascus is at http://www.sstu.samara.ru:8105/~physics/fedosov/damasc_e.htm , part of which is below:
Mechanical properties of Modern Fabricated Pattern Welded Damascus Steels
S. Fedosov
(fedosov@sstu.samara.ru)
Samara State Technical University
(Galaktionovskaya 141, Samara 443010 Russia)
Introduction
There are two sorts of Damascus steels: "Genuine" or Wootz Damascus and Mechanical, Pattern or Welded Damascus (we do not mention False or Imitation Damascus here). In Russia the first one is named as Bulat (from Persian "Pulad"), while the second is named as Damascus steel simply.
Many of investigators have been occupied with Bulat/Wootz Damascus. In the middle of the last century the Russian metallurgist A. P. Anosov restored the technology of producing Bulat blades [1], and this production was glimmering at Zlatoust Arm Factory up to the end of 1919 [2]. Thorough works by Russian scientists N. I. Belaiew and N. T. Belaiew were published in the beginning of the century [3-5]. In our days the bladesmiths V. I. Basov (USSR) [6] (the first mentioning [7]) and A. H. Pendray (USA) were the first to make Bulat/Wootz Damascus blades. In his beautiful studies J. D. Verhoeven with co-workers laid the foundation for the theory of Wootz Damascus ([8], for example).
Welded Damascus steel was fabricated and now is worked out in greater quantities than Wootz Damascus steel. However, in scientific respect the previous always was in the shadow of the latter. The author knows a couple of the papers on mechanical properties of genuine antique Bulat/Wootz Damascus blades [9, 10]. Of course, there are works devoted to the mechanical properties of modern fabricated Bulat steels ([11] for example). But mechanical characteristics of Welded Damascus steels are known worse.
As long ago as 20's barrels of hunting rifles of Welded Damascus steel were fabricated in Tula (Russia) (so name the "red hardware"). Such barrels were expensive and it was found they had not advantages in strength. In addition they were more prone to occlusion (penetration and trapping of gunpowder gases in the material). So, fabrication of such barrels was stopped. However we could not find the quantity data of those tests.
The scope of the present work is to determine the mechanical properties of modern fabricated Welded Damascus steels from the best of Russian bladesmiths.
Mechanical properties of Modern Fabricated Pattern Welded Damascus Steels
S. Fedosov
(fedosov@sstu.samara.ru)
Samara State Technical University
(Galaktionovskaya 141, Samara 443010 Russia)
Introduction
There are two sorts of Damascus steels: "Genuine" or Wootz Damascus and Mechanical, Pattern or Welded Damascus (we do not mention False or Imitation Damascus here). In Russia the first one is named as Bulat (from Persian "Pulad"), while the second is named as Damascus steel simply.
Many of investigators have been occupied with Bulat/Wootz Damascus. In the middle of the last century the Russian metallurgist A. P. Anosov restored the technology of producing Bulat blades [1], and this production was glimmering at Zlatoust Arm Factory up to the end of 1919 [2]. Thorough works by Russian scientists N. I. Belaiew and N. T. Belaiew were published in the beginning of the century [3-5]. In our days the bladesmiths V. I. Basov (USSR) [6] (the first mentioning [7]) and A. H. Pendray (USA) were the first to make Bulat/Wootz Damascus blades. In his beautiful studies J. D. Verhoeven with co-workers laid the foundation for the theory of Wootz Damascus ([8], for example).
Welded Damascus steel was fabricated and now is worked out in greater quantities than Wootz Damascus steel. However, in scientific respect the previous always was in the shadow of the latter. The author knows a couple of the papers on mechanical properties of genuine antique Bulat/Wootz Damascus blades [9, 10]. Of course, there are works devoted to the mechanical properties of modern fabricated Bulat steels ([11] for example). But mechanical characteristics of Welded Damascus steels are known worse.
As long ago as 20's barrels of hunting rifles of Welded Damascus steel were fabricated in Tula (Russia) (so name the "red hardware"). Such barrels were expensive and it was found they had not advantages in strength. In addition they were more prone to occlusion (penetration and trapping of gunpowder gases in the material). So, fabrication of such barrels was stopped. However we could not find the quantity data of those tests.
The scope of the present work is to determine the mechanical properties of modern fabricated Welded Damascus steels from the best of Russian bladesmiths.