Damascus knives

Damascus steel knives

Damascus steel is considered to be steel, on the surface of which peculiar patterns are visible, formed by the alternation of different types of metal. For the manufacture of this type of steel, blanks are used that differ in the amount of carbon in the composition. They are first connected to each other by welding, and then subjected to repeated forging. As a result of the movement of metals, a rather simple pattern of wavy lines first appears on the surface of the product.

If you do not stop at this and continue to work using special techniques, you can achieve amazing clarity and beauty of the picture, and most importantly, the highest quality indicators. Both directly depend on the number of layers in the steel. Most master cutlers believe that 300-500 layers of material are needed to create a quality Damascus knife.

Such a laborious process creates a unique steel that combines the hardness and elasticity of a high-carbon metal and at the same time the softness and ductility of iron. Layers with a high amount of carbon give the blade sharpness and strength, and layers with low - flexibility and resistance to bending. The main task of a good craftsman is the correct selection of the proportional ratio of hard and soft steels in the Damascus knife. The hard ones, of course, should prevail.

History of Damascus steel

Surprisingly, the Syrian city of Damascus was not at all a center of blacksmithing. Most of the ancient products from Damascus that have come down to us were created in Persia, India and other regions of Syria, but not in Damascus itself. Scientists suggest that the name arose due to the fact that in this city there was the largest market in the region, known for a large assortment of bladed weapons of oriental masters.

There is another version of the origin of the name. According to her, the term damascus comes from the word "damask", which translates as "striated" or "wavy". This was the name given to the type of cast steel with a special jet pattern, which was produced in Damascus and really outwardly resembled Damascus steel, although of course it was inferior to it in terms of quality.

Blacksmiths guessed to weld blanks with different amounts of carbon for a long time. By combining iron with high-carbon steel, it was possible to obtain a material that combined the advantages and negated the disadvantages of both. This is how the basis of the Damascus steel manufacturing technique arose - the alternation of layers. Soon it was improved by masters from the Arab countries, medieval Europe and China.

To save time and spend less iron, they decided to forge a whole bundle of special wire with the right amount of carbon. The first blades from welded Damascus date back to the 3rd century BC and were made, according to researchers, as early as the Celts. At the very beginning of our era, the so-called "twisted kharalugs" gained great popularity. For their manufacture, blanks of different composition were first welded, and then they were twisted into a spiral, forged and joined into a single bar. It is this structure that quite a few late Roman, Germanic and Frankish swords made after the 10th century AD have. e.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantage of blades made of Damascus steel is the unsurpassed sharpness of the blade. It is very difficult to achieve a similar sharpness, comparable to a razor, for knives made of plain steel, because the edge of the blade begins to crumble. Only Damascus combines hardness and at the same time toughness and elasticity, maintaining excellent cutting qualities for a long time and providing the ability to self-sharpen.

Unfortunately, due to the high amount of carbon in the composition, many types of Damascus knives can be prone to corrosion. To avoid this, do not forget about the proper care of products. First of all, they need timely cleaning and lubrication with special oil. For those who find it difficult to organize care, we recommend choosing stainless Damascus models.

All knives presented in this section are made by true masters of their craft in compliance with traditional and author's technologies for processing metal and decorative materials.

Why Buy Damascus Steel Knives?

When deciding to buy a Damascus steel knife, first of all think about what purpose it will serve. If the main thing for you is the beauty and presentability of the product, then of course you should take a closer look at the exclusive models and knives made of mosaic Damascus. In the case of buying a blade for permanent use, you should think about purchasing a knife from this steel, in accordance with your taste and financial capabilities.

The price of Damascus steel knives depends on many factors: the amount of time and labor invested, the complexity of the design and finish of the product, the cost and quantity of materials from which it is made. A high-quality author's knife cannot be cheap. First of all, it is worth considering that you are purchasing a non-serial, unique product, in which not only great efforts have been invested, but also, in a sense, a particle of the master's soul.

We are located in Irpin, so delivery in Irpin, Bucha and Kiev is carried out using our courier service. In other cities of our country, delivery is only through postal services: "Nova Poshta" and "Ukrposhta".