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Made In Syria?
What is Damascus?
Knife steel is like bread- Rye bread and white both have their fans. Alloy steel is more challenging as each ingredient can have an upside and a downside. The metal mix that keeps away rust will make a knife brittle. Sometimes, entirely different steel formulas are brought together to create a magical blade... Read on!
The origin of Damascus steel is uncertain, but it dates back more than 1000 years. Steel ingots, likely from India, Sri Lanka and Persia were brought to the Middle East and forged together (possibly at first because of the rarity and limited quantities of the material needed to make a whole sword or knife). This mixture of different metal blends would combine the positive qualities of each unique steel formulation and was found to be superior to other blades. The water-like swirling patterns in this legendary crucible steel was an offshoot of the production methods of this unique iron alloy.
Most knives today are machine stamped in bulk from a rolled sheet of thin steel, like a batch of postage stamps. The stamped metal then usually gets covered with a molded plastic or wooden handle. This is certainly the best way to produce hundreds of inexpensive knives, but for those who want a superior product there is still an option. Quality knives are typically forged from a larger block of steel and shaped to the desired form. Forged blades can be factory produced or made by hand by experienced guild members. For better or worse, forged knives are usually made of a single, specific steel formula with pre-defined characteristics.
Considered the pinnacle of the knife making craft, traditional pattern welding and hand forging of different steel blends will yield one of a kind pieces that can optimize the performance of the knife. More experienced artisans take pride in the beautiful and unique patterns that can be created from the careful folding and hammering process. An effort to make the knife steel stronger gave birth to a beautiful art form. Since 1973, modern pattern welded and forged steel has been known as a Damascus, even though it uses a different process than the ancient steel of the same name.