Damascus Section

Damascus.... steel that stirs the imagination. Although the process is nearly as old as forging of steel, pattern welding in modern times was nearly a forgotten art. Scholars have argued over whether it was the Celts, Chinese, or the Vikings who first produced "wootz", "Pattern-Welded", "Damascus" steel. Regardless of who made it first, it was the Japanese and especially the Norse(Vikings) who, in my opinion, were the masters of damascus and pattern welded sword making. They where the stuff of legends...probably where we get the stories and myths of 'magical' swords, never dulling, unbreakable.Stories like King Richards sword able to slice through Iron Bars! And Japanese Katanas cutting through machine gun barrels, and beheading clean up to 5 and 6 slaves before slowing!! These stories are far-fetched to be sure, but the truth is a properly forged Damascus blade will out cut and hold it's edge longer and break far less than a forged blade of tool steel, high-carbon, and especially a stainless blade. It does all of this by forging mutilple types of metals into one billet, folding that billet multiple times to a desired number is reached. This folding blends the metals, making them stronger....think of it as plywood. Plywood is stronger than a solid piece of wood the same dimension. It cut's much better as well because all of those different layers are crossing the cutting edge making microscopic serrated teeth that will cut, cut, and cut some more!! Here are just some of the examples of Damascus knives I offer: