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There are several myths surrounding Damascus steel blades. For example, the myth that a blade from Damascus can cut a forged blade made of ordinary iron. Or, for example, the myth that a Damascus knife cuts metal chainmail like butter. It has been experimentally established that these myths have nothing to do with reality.
The usual hardness of Damascus is 55-56 HRC. A blade made of ordinary iron and metal armor have the same hardness. So, if we proceed from the laws of ordinary physics, two blades with the same hardness will not be able to cut each other. If we carefully consider the issue of the historical appearance of Damascus, it becomes clear that Damascus steel was born as a result of economy. Blacksmiths in various countries experimented a lot with forged steels of various densities and eventually forgings were born in which soft and hard layers of iron were mixed. And it was only during the operation that the performance characteristics were revealed, thanks to which the ancient warriors began to appreciate weapons made of Damascus steel.
Mixing layers of different hardness gives Damascus knives high hardness, but at the same time makes a knife flexible and viscous. Hard layers of Damascus are responsible for reliability and cutting characteristics, soft layers provide the possibility of rapid sharpening and do not allow the blade to break under heavy load. This is advantage of Damascus — where another blade breaks, Damascus will stretch or bend slightly.
For example, a well-known “disease” of powder steel knives is “fragility”, especially at low temperatures. The result of this disease is the breaking off of the tips and the coloring of the cutting edge. Damascus steel blades are devoid of this drawback.
The main advantages of Damascus steel knives
Knives made of Damascus steel are perfectly adapted to work in the field, because they have:
- the softness and elasticity of carbon steel, which ensures fast edging of the cutting edge and smooth well-controlled cutting.
- the hardness of knives made of cast damask, which allows you to use them to perform the most difficult work.
Choosing a custom knife made of Damascus steel, it is worth remembering that Damascus is conditionally stainless steel. After work, the knife should be wiped dry. And for long-term storage, lubricate with Teflon or gun grease.
