Modern Damascus Steel

First and foremost, be aware that mostblank that's then ground down to a blade. They
everything you read about the legendaryalso have the advantage of not tarnishing or
properties of Damascus Steel is bunk. Pure andrusting, making them much lower maintenance.)
unadulterated bunk. This also applies to anythingHowever, the primary purpose of owning a
you've read about Samurai swords, patternDamascus steel Pocket Knife or any knife with a
forged Viking swords, and any other "swordDamascus Steel blade is aesthetics. The patterns
of legend". These blades are tools;in the steel caused by carbon impurities are
sometimes they're well made tools – butattractive, and range in styles and patterns that
the real world of steel manufacturing changedcome from the lot of steel that was used to
with the Bessemer process in the 1840s, whenmake the blade, its forging technique and how
exact control of the amount of carbon in a steelmany times it was layered over to fold it.
blank could be controlled. You can make as goodDamascus steel knives are one of the few truly
a sword blade from any modern laminate steel,practical tools that also qualifies as a work of art.
like that found in an automobile leaf spring.(In our estimation, the Craftsman Vanadium Steel
That doesn't mean Damascus steel isn't aLug Wrench set also qualifies, but, well, we're
remarkable material, and that the blades madeguys who like to work with our hands.)
from it are valueless. They can be collector'sFortunately, most of the techniques for creating
items, and lots of craftsmen who want toDamascus steel were recreated in the last
recreate the old ways, to find out how thingscentury. Germany made thousands of Damascus
were done in the 12th century onwards exist, andsteel blades for the Army in World War II, and a
they're showing a lot of innovation in steel andnumber of researchers and medieval recreation
blade manufacturing.societies went into the business of recreating
Damascus steel is an excellent tool for knifeDamascus steel as a production methodology in
blades, and in the modern world, knives are muchthe US in the 1970s. Now, there are several
more useful than swords as generalartisan craftsmen who make Damascus pattern
tools…and compared to the stainless steelforged steel blades of nearly every pattern; most
that most knives are made from, Damascus steelwill tell you that their method of creating it is
holds a better edge, is more durable, and is hardereither the most authentic – or will result in
to break or damage than the traditional stainlessa better blade than all the imitators.
steel knife blanks. (Stainless steel knife blanksAgain, most of them are selling you an excellent
exist because for 99% of what most people useknife blade…but it's still just a good steel
a knife for, they're good enough, and they'reblank.
cheaper to make – being a single casting