Damascus Steel: Its History and Types

Damascus steel is an attractive yet a peculiar steel that is used in making weapons. They include Damascus steel sword, knife, and dagger. The article below discusses some history of the Damascus Steel and how it is made. Read on to know more.

History

Damascus steel follows the style of craftsmanship that surfaced in India around 300 BC. Such craftsmanship was abundant and was named according to the region that made it famous. During the medieval times, the Arabs first introduced the Wootz steel to the people of the city of Damascus. This material then helped establish a thriving weapon industry. This is because wootz steel imported from Persia and Sri Lanka forged very tough steel blades which were great in terms of utility. The swordsmiths of those times understood that a combination of various metals was much stronger than pure steel.

How Damascus Steel Got Its Name

Even though it is not clear why exactly is it called Damascus Steel, there are three possibilities that seem plausible. Firstly, that it refers to the steel being made in Damascus. Secondly, it may be because of the trading and purchasing of this steel from Damascus. Lastly, it might have originated because of the similarity of its pattern to damask fabric. Even though the steel might have been made in Damascus and its pattern might somewhat resemble damask fabric, it is certain that the steel was popularized by Damascus trades.

The two types of Damascus Steel

Damascus steel has a distinct wavy pattern. The Damascus steel with its combination of light and dark pattern is not only beautiful to look at but also has a keen edge, is hard and flexible. This is why weapons such as Damascus steel sword is much more superior than weapons forged from Iron. There are two main types of Damascus steels

1. Cast Damascus steel
2. Pattern-welded Damascus steel.

Cast Damascus Steel

The original Damascus steel was cast from wootz, the steel that originated in India over two thousand years ago, hence, no one has been able to exactly replicate the original method. Even though the production of wootz in India started even before the birth of Christ, its use in trade items became popular in the 3rd and 4rth century in Damascus, now modern Syria. As the Damascus steel making technique vanished in the 1700s, the source material for Damascus steel was also forgotten. That is why even after putting a lot of research and trying several reverse engineering methods, an exact replication of cast steel has not yet been made because of the inability to cast the same material. Cast wootz steel required melting iron and steel together in the absence of oxygen. This caused the absorption of carbon from charcoal which upon cooling formed carbide crystals. Damascus steel was then made by forging this wootz into Damascus steel knives, swords, and other articles. A lot of skill is required to produce the distinct patterns as controlling the temperature in the process is very crucial.

Pattern-Welded Damascus Steel

Objects made from pattern welded Damascus steel also have the unique pattern and possess the same qualities as the Cast Damascus steel. The steel is strong and flexible. This steel is made by forming a welded bond between iron and steel. The iron and steel are layered and then hammered on very high temperatures. During the process, the oxygen is kept out by using a flux sealing in the joint. The multiple layers give the steel its characteristic watery pattern. Damascus steel is indeed remarkable with its unique and aesthetically appealing patterns. If you too want to be the owner of Damascus Steel sword, visit SwordsSwords.com