The History of Stainless Damascus
First developed in India and Sri Lanka, the process began with high-carbon steel known as wootz steel. Recognized for its unusually high purity, wootz steel first developed as early as 300 BC and became the steel used for Damascus steel around 1100 AD. The original method for making Damascus steel was lost to the ages, though it is believed to have involved a series of cooling and heating processes to strengthen the steel. Damascus steel gains its strength from microscopic nanotubes of carbon in the steel. These combine to form a stiff, strong material
The first modern Damascus blades were made in the 1940s, with growing popularity in the 1970s. Today, the term “Damascus” has come to mean any steel with a visible grain pattern. Modern methods for making stainless Damascus result in a laminated effect, with many layers of folded steel comprising the blade. This process, known as pattern welding, requires two types of steels, one with a high content of nickel. By folding and twisting, the steel gains its characteristic layered or laminated appearance.
Today, Damascus steel tends to be more labor-intensive than other processes, such as Bessemer steel, making it more expensive. Still, Damascus steel is a remarkable metal. Many craftsmen who want to recreate the old ways of knife making uses this material. Compared to stainless steel, a standard knife blade material, Damascus steel holds its edge longer and is harder to break. However, it is possible for the blade to tarnish or rust, so your Damascus steel blade must be properly maintained. Also, many Damascus steel blades are considered a work of art due to their layered appearance.
