I’m simplifying this a ton, but there are two ways to get “real” Damascus steel: Wootz and pattern-welded steel. What’s the difference between Wootz and Damascus steel? One common misconception is - if the knife's spine does not present the Damascus pattern folds, it is not real. Legends of wootz steel and Damascus swords piqued the curiosity of European scientists. When […] Crafted, sharpened and perfected by hand in Finland, using blacksmith techniques acquired over 40 years - resulting in uncompromised products, made to last a lifetime. This statement is circumstantial, as Damascus folds can be polished out, and is often done to make the knife more aesthetically pleasing. Damascus steel was forged in the region that is now known as the Middle East encompassing parts of Western Asia, Turkey and Egypt from Wootz steel. Damascus steel knives have long been considered ideal hunting knives. Jun 26, 2020, Unique Pocket Knives ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Damascus steel was a type of steel used for manufacturing blades in the Near East made with wootz steel imported from India. Originating from near eastern civilizations, these knives were manufactured to be resilient and tough. In 1790, samples of wootz steel were received by the British Royal Society. To determine the authenticity of a Damascus steel blade - you need to polish a fragment of the blade down until the pattern is no longer visible. The Second Tenuous*, Use of Kora-Kaha for Wootz Steel/Damascus Steel. Although it is not the most easiest question to answer - there are many telltale signs which can help the user recognize whether their Damascus blade is real or fake. "One is the true Damascus steel, or Wootz steel, which is a high carbon alloy with tremendous edge retention possibly due to its composition of carbon nanotubes and carbide nanowires, with a wavy surface texture originating from the crystalline structure of alloy metals such as tungsten and vanadium - elements that occur naturally in iron ore from southern India - to the surface during the manufacturing … A real Damascus steel knife will highlight uniform folds and patterns across the blade, blade's cutting edge, blade's spine, knife bolster, and knife's tang. The Damascus pocket knives are capable of performing similar tasks, with the increased emphasis on portability and maneuverability. Damascus knives also incorporate a variety of premium materials, such as - stag, micarta wood, bone, ram horn, walnut, tiger leather, etc. Swords made from this "ancient supersteel" were both flexible yet very hard, and a study in 2006 found they contained nanowires and nanotubes ( click here for a detailed article on Wootz Steel). How to Recognize Real vs. Wootz steel had some very unusual properties and its manufacturing secrets have been lost in the mists of time (the last true Damascus Steel was made in the mid 18th century). Wootz steel is the name given to an exceptional grade of iron ore steel first made in southern and south-central India and Sri Lanka perhaps as early as 400 BCE. It is known that by then the Indians were already producing Wootz steel for over two millennia. Therefore, Damascus knives made using wootz steel is considered authentic Damascus steel.Â. Middle Eastern blacksmiths used wootz ingots from the Indian subcontinent to produce extraordinary steel weaponry throughout the middle ages, known as Damascus steel. They perfected the art of making a strong sw This high quality metal originated in India and has been in trade since the 6th century BC. In modern times, pattern welding is the primary process used to construct Damascus steel knives. Aug 31, 2019, Cheap Damascus Steel Hunting Knives For Sale Both wootz steel and pattern-welded steel are called "Damascus steel", but despite the superficial decorative features they are quite different. I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Subscribe to our Newsletter for information on the best deals and new products. Thus, the question naturally arises - is my Damascus knife a real or fake Damascus steel knife? In wootz Damascus steel or pattern welded steel, the original pattern will reemerge following submersion of the blade in the acid solution. Jul 30, 2019. However, only when acid etching or laser etching is done exclusively on cheaper blades, such as stainless steel or carbon steel, without the layering or smelting of steel, is the Damascus knife considered fake.Â. Roselli Wootz Outdoor Knife . The inner structure of the steel is created when the molten charge begins to solidify and impurity elements such as Mn, S, Si, and P are the first elements to form a network by segregating between the austenite dendrites. Wootz steel originated in South India, in present day Tamil Nadu and Kerala. These swords are characterized by distinctive patterns of banding and mottling reminiscent of flowing water, sometimes in a "ladder" or "rose" pattern. Typical pattern welded blades contain approximately 40 layers. Wootz steel is the name given to an exceptional grade of iron ore steel first made in southern and south-central India and Sri Lanka perhaps as early as 400 BCE. These qualities make Damascus steel knives highly sought after for their functionality, versatility, quality, and ornate designs. Here's the answer - both wootz steel and pattern welded Damascus knives are real Damascus steel knives. It is the lack of this particular steel which makes it impossible to precisely reproduce Damascus steel today. A self-taught smith, Heimo started forging in 1974 and since 1976 he has been making knives full time. Feb 17, 2020, Single Handed Axes However, the blade is the most prominent feature of these knives, as they are very sharp and highlight distinct and intricate patterns.Â. Memorial to Saladin´s sword in Damascus, capital of Syria. Long esteemed as the ultimate sword steel, true wootz Damascus has superior qualities that provide exceptional toughness, edge retention and flexibility. Wootz is the name of the actual steel used in making Damascus blades. Unlike pattern-welded steel, whose pattern arises from the deliberate combination of different metals (iron alloys) during the making of a blade, wootz is a single type of steel that includes various impurities. http://www.imadeaknife.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/mainlogobig.png, Making a gorgeous handmade custom camping knife, Crafting a full-blown kitchen knife from scratch, A guide to building a custom chef’s knife for the kitchen, © 2017 I Made A Knife! Many people often have questions about Damascus Steel, or folded steel, thinking that it is the best steel for swords - but in reality, what we currently call 'Damascus Steel' is just any of the steel types above that has been folded several times.. Is Damascus steel stronger than normal (carbon/stainless) steel? Thanks for reaching out! When people refer to Damascus blades, they’re likely referring to pattern-welded blades in general. The blade is folded several times, whic… Damascus became the main focus of rivalry between different branches of the family, changing hands a number of times before Ayyubid rule came to an end. This Wootz steel Outdoor knife is Made in Finland by well known knife maker Heimo Roselli, who has been knife making in the far North for 45 years. The term “Damascus steel” was used in Islamic texts no later than 1232 AD and predates the use of the term by Europeans where the earliest known reference to “Damascus steel” was in 1432 [1]. Wootz (steel), Steel produced by a method known in ancient India.The process involved preparation of porous iron, hammering it while hot to release slag, breaking it up and sealing it with wood chips in a clay container, and heating it until the pieces of iron absorbed carbon from the wood and melted. Another common misconception is - Damascus knives which have undergone acid etching treatment are not real Damascus steel knives. They have long been considered premium hunting knives due to their implementation of premium materials, excessive forge welding, and ability to perform a variety of tasks. Fake Damascus Steel Knives, The Best Elk Ridge Knives For Sale | Affordable Hunting Knives, Purchase The Best Tac Force Karambit Pocket Knives For Sale, Cheap Damascus Steel Hunting Knives For Sale. Damascus steel was made from a raw material called wootz steel. The fixed blade Damascus knives emphasize functionality and are great for a variety of tasks, including skinning game, chopping wood, slicing fruit, cutting rope, and much more. Before outlining some of these signs, it is important to distinguish between the different methods employed to make damascus steel knives.Â. Damascus steel was the forged steel of the blades of swords smithed in the Near East from ingots of Wootz steel either imported from Southern India or made in production centres in Merv or Khorasan. It’s referred to as Damascus because that was the city (capital of Syria) that was known for selling swords made of the Wootz steel. It was more than a thousand years before steel as good was made in the West. A Step Closer to the … The key to the sword was the use of wootz. However, it is also a common practice to polish out the damascus folds on the knife's spine, brass bolster, and butt of the knife - therefore this strategy is not a comprehensive method for determining the authenticity of your Damascus steel blade.Â, If you are interested in browsing real Damascus steel knives, you can do so at Frontier Blades. Â, ← Older Post On the other hand, carbon steel or stainless steel blades which have undergone acid etching or laser etching treatment exclusively in order to fabricate the famous Damascus steel patterns are considered fake Damascus knives.Â, Additionally, some telltale signs to ascertain the authenticity of your Damascus steel knife include consistent folds across the blade, cutting edge, spine, and handle. Ten Things the Ancients Did Better than Us 2. Myth: Wootz steel was named “Damascus steel” by Europeans. Wootz steel was used to construct Damascus knives within historic times, however this process is a lost art. Yet, you will find Damascus steel knives are offered at extensive price ranges - some are very cheap while others are exorbitant. Therefore, a common question many individuals find themselves asking once they get their hands on a damascus blade is - is my damascus steel knife real or fake?Â, This question is a very important one to ask, as there are many fake Damascus knives being offered. Therefore, it is important to look at other signs in conjunction to determine the validity of the knife (such as looking at the consistency of the folds). 10 Essential Knife Shapes and Styles To Know, The “Patina” Explained and a Guide to Do It Yourself, The Only Article On Knife Grinds You’ll Ever Need, Essential Knife Care and Maintenance Tips. This word only entered the English language towards the end of the 18th century, when Europeans first began learning about the way this steel was produced. The crucible steel production process started in the 6th century BC, at production sites of Kodumanal in Tamil Nadu, Golconda in Telangana, Karnataka and Sri Lanka and exported globally. First and foremost, if the Damascus knife highlights highly elaborate, detailed, and unnatural designs (not the general watery, folded, ladder, wavy, twist, raindrop, or feather patterns) it is most likely not legitimate.Â, Additionally, by simply examining the consistency of the patterns on your knife, you can tell whether or not it is a genuine Damascus knife. This process continues until several layers are formed. Jul 01, 2020, How to Recognize Real vs. Wootz steel was originally made in India. Roselli makes simple, unique and great looking knives using carbon steel … These knives come in many different forms - fixed blades, bowies, swords, kukris, pocket knives, etc. Therefore, if the pattern is not present on the knife's spine or parts of the handle, this doesn't necessarily mean the knife is not a genuine Damascus steel knife.Â. Then, you immerse the blade in an acid solution. The blades are finished off with applying acid etching following polishing to make the Damascus folds more visible - making the famous wavy and twist patterns more prominent. GarethB. Pattern Welding - Pattern welding is a modern technique which involves layering multiple sheets of iron and steel, and applying excessive heat treatments with repeated forging. This process involved smelting pieces of iron and steel with wooden chips. Additionally, as previously stated, pattern welded Damascus steel knives are stronger than their historic counterpart, as they contain less impurities and are made with homogenous layers. There are many telltale signs which you can use to determine if your Damascus knife is real or fake. This steel was called wootz steel. Manufacturers of knives and axes used for hunting, fishing, cooking and outdoor life. DAMASCUS STEEL Wootz steel was produced as roughly 2.3 kg ingots, commonly referred to as cakes, that are solidified in a closed crucible. What can I use instead of a belt grinder? Swords made out of wootz or damascus steel were renowned for their sharpness and toughness at the smae time being very heavy. Also, folds present on the knife's butt is a sign the blade is true damascus steel.Â, However, at times, the bolster, tang, and knife's spine (within the handle portion of the knife) are polished, which removes the folds on the handle. OSTI.GOV Journal Article: Damascus steel, Part I: Indian wootz steel High carbon alloys were little used in Europe in the 17th to 19th century. Was there not enough Kora-Kaha trees to make Steel to fight the 12th Century South Invaders. “Wootz was the first high-quality steel made anywhere in the world. The pattern welded blades are just as strong, if not stronger, than their historic wootz steel counterparts. Exclusive Acid Etching - We've seen both pattern welding and forging wootz steel employ application of acid etching to the Damascus blades to bring out the water and twist patterns. These are considered fake damascus steel blades, as they are primarily made with the intention of aesthetically imprinting Damascus looking patterns on cheaper blades. These swords are characterized by distinctive patterns of banding and mottling reminiscent of flowing water. These samples were subjected to scientific examination and analysis by several experts. Site about Damascus steel, and Wootz steel to share information with other amatuers. Such blades were reputed to be tough, resistant to shattering, and capable of being honed to a sharp, resilient edge. 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. Wootz is the name of the actual steel used in making Damascus blades. Due to their increased functionality, versatility, and high demand, these knives are easily replicated using ingenuine techniques. Side Note: As one of the oldest cities in the Middle East, Damascus has a fascinating history for any of those interested. Each Damascus knife is hand forged using premium materials - ensuring each knife is a unique piece of art. "Damascus" Steel/FOLDED STEEL. It was a crucible steel that was made by melting pieces of iron and steel in clay pots. In truth Nihonto was making of a samurai sword in Japan, involved folding the steel several times to get rid of impurities since the iron in Japan was of very poor quality, it needed refining that’s how folded steel Katana was born. The difference between Nihontoand Damascus steel varies a lot and due to the fact that the secrets of making Damascus steel are lost, some people compare between the two. Wootz steel. Wootz Steel (True Damascus) Details of the blade of a Kurdish dagger (mountings early 20th Century), cut down from a Persian shamshir, signed Kalb Ali (dated middle to late 18th Century) A 60kb jpeg close-up of this blade may also be viewed to more clearly see the Mohammed's ladder pattern. Additionally, Damascus steel knives are very expansive and highly versatile. 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