DAMASCUS KNIVES

Due to the popularity of cheap, mass-produced commercial quality knives, Damascus craftsmanship became what many saw as a lost art. However, fine quality never really comes into fashion, and there is no doubt that Damascus steel is more durable and has a razor-sharp edge longer than any other steel. Duncan and his colleagues recognized the demand, and they have largely helped to put Damascus back in fashion.

Unlike commercial grade knives, which are stamped from medium grade steel sheet, Damascus steel is formed by folding many layers of high-quality carbon steel into one block. This block is called a billet. From a billet, a knife can cut several blanks. He then forges a blade of each white. The craftsman then grinds the forged blade into a finished knife. Then he treats it with heat and then with tempera. Finally, he bathes the blade in acid, which engraves the beautiful motifs that define the steel of Damascus.

It takes about 20 hours to complete a single knife, and each has a distinct appearance and feel. These qualities make each Damascus knife a legacy.

SHORT HISTORY OF DAMASCUS

In the Middle Ages, when European crusaders invaded the Holy Land, they often fought badly against the Saracen horsemen who swayed with light and sharp swords that they could slice a man in two. They were also so flexible that they could bend without breaking. These swords were made of Damascus steel and represented the most advanced form of military metallurgy.

Japanese sword manufacturers have also used the Damascus process to make samurai swords. The samurai swords of Damascus contained up to 2,000 layers of steel, and they are extremely valuable and sought after today. The Damascus1 also made Custom Damascus Folding knives and swords from Damascus, and their ironwork is considered one of the most beautiful ever created.

The craftsmen of Damascus were so protective of their craft that most of them did not train or employ assistants. When a sword maker died, he took his secrets to the grave. Over time, the number of artisans in Damascus has gradually decreased. In the 1800s, art was almost extinct. The last place where it was widely used was in the manufacture of shotgun barrels. However, the damask barrels were built for the low pressures generated by the ignition of the black powder. When smokeless powder became the norm as a gun thruster, Damascus was "rusted", so to speak.

HARD STEEL, SOFT STEEL

Modern knives are judged by the amount of carbon and other components in their steel. The higher the carbon content, the harder the steel. However, too much carbon makes the steel fragile. Too little carbon and steel is too soft to hold an edge. Discount knives are usually made from inferior quality stainless steel, or steel with too little carbon to make a good blade. In addition, the carbon content is uniform throughout the blade. Thus, the steel is just as hard on the edge as in the middle and at the top.

Damascus steel, on the other hand, has many different qualities. For example, a good Damascus blade contains different steels with high nickel and carbon content.

An outdoor enthusiast, Ron Duncan was frustrated with discount store knives while elk hunting in Colorado. He had a brand new hunting knife made by a well-known company, but he was dying well before he finished dressing an elk.

"A good knife should be able to dress three or four elk without having to re-sharpen it," Duncan said. "You can do it with the knives I make."

To find the right combination of qualities, Duncan used steel from an incredible variety of sources. Automotive leaf springs contain superior quality steel, but they also like to use the large circular saw blades or large bandsaw blades thrown away from sawmills. The woven steel cable makes a good knife that will have a unique and highly desirable pattern.