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The Craft Steel & Heat
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Modern
Damascus steel is made to be pretty. Bill Moran is credited  with
the re-discovery of modern Damascus steel, and it has revolutionized the
custom knife industry. The knife blade, which was previously at it’s
zenith when mirror polished, could now become a canvas for the bladesmith
to embellish with every pattern and design imaginable, not on the
steel; but in the steel. Part of the mystery and beauty of Damascus
steel is that the pattern cannot ever be worn off, because it is in the
steel. In fact, a large Damascus blade, which is used hard for many years
and constantly re-sharpened, can gradually reveal the inner layers of the
steel and the pattern will slowly change as the years pass.
Like everything else I do, I make all my own Damascus. I use only high carbon steels in the Damascus for knife blades, but Damascus for fittings can be made from high or low carbon steels, wrought iron, and pure nickel. The different steels are stacked together, forged together at very high heat, and folded, twisted, cut and otherwise manipulated to get an infinite array of patterns. I am now using O-1 or 1084 combined with 15n20 for the Damascus in most of my blades. One advantage of this mixture is that I can heat treat the blades in several different ways depending on the type of knife I'm making. This mixture, when heat treated properly is capable of strength and edge holding to the degree that it is almost beyond what is even necessary in the real world. I have taken blades made from this mixture and bent them past 100 degrees without breaking, and they return to within 15 degrees of straight. That is what I mean by performance beyond what is really necessary in the real world. If you have never owned a working Damascus knife, you should consider calling me to get a Blue Collar Damascus knife which you can feel comfortable using on everything from cardboard to elk without having to invest $1000 or more for a Damascus art knife. Though Damascus steel is made for good looks, there’s no reason to relegate it to a letter opener or a mantle piece. A knife is designed to cut, and all my Damascus blades are fully heat-treated and will cut very well and hold a sharp edge. Remember that I can make a very fine working knife from O-1 or from 15n20 by themselves, so when they are combined into one blade, they have not lost their ability to perform, simply because the blade is now Damascus. I assume that all my blades will be used to their limits, so Damascus or not, they are all built with that in mind. If I were pressed to choose one knife I would have to depend on for the rest of my life, I would not be reluctant at all to grab one of my Damascus blades. If you see me in person, ask to see the knife I am carrying. It is almost always a Damascus blade. |
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