Blade

DAMASOUS DOES IT

Damascus steel has a legendary history. In ancient times, versions of it were reputed to be strong enough to break common steel and sharp enough to cut through a falling silk scarf.

The origin of damascus and its construction are a constant source of fascination. Many believed the steel came from Damascus, Syria, thus the name. In fact, most of the steel was made in India* and came to damascus in billets, which were then forged into swords, daggers and knives. There were many kinds of “damascus” but all had in common a high degree of ductility, strength and the ability to take a ferocious edge, all qualities of critical importance during ages when people fought one other with edged weapons made of steel.

The knowledge of how to forge damascus faded with the advent of more

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Blade

Blade5 min read
Lean’n Lanky
There’s a lanky breed of factory folder fueling consumer demand, and several notable entries in the genre are turning heads. Accomplished designers have teamed with knife companies to meld form and function with select materials to accomplish a sleek
Blade3 min read
Texas Strang-twanged
The 3rd Annual BLADE Show Texas (page 36) was a Texas twister of knives, knifemakers, knife enthusiasts, tall tales and other tidbits. Some behind-the-scenes highlights: A knifemaker’s worst pre-knife-show nightmare was a topic of conversation broach
Blade4 min read
From Whittle to Whack
KNIFE TYPE: Fixed blade BLADE LENGTH: 3.5” BLADE MATERIAL: 272-layer damascus of 1095 carbon and 15N20 nickel-alloy steels BLADE GRIND: Convex HANDLE MATERIAL: Stabilized maple KNIFE TO KNOW: Gimping on the blade spine; handle has an enhanced palm sw

Related Books & Audiobooks