custom straight?

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Originally Posted by superfly

The first and real damascus blades were forged combinig two types of steel: brittle but hard, and elastic but soft. ...

Nenad

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Actually, Superfly this is not quite correct. The first real Damascus steel was not made by two types of steel folded together. It had simular patterns as that of folded steel, but it was the result of iron carbide crystals formed within the steel itself, not different steels. This type of steel is know as "Wootz Steel"

Wikipedia has a article on it if you like to learn more about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damascus_steel

I may be wrong, but I think the Japanese were the first to perfect pattern welded steel in which alternating layers of hard and soft steel was used. In addition, I believed they used a special tempering method to harden the blade on their swords.

There was quite a bit of difference, however, between a true Japanese sword, and a true Damascus sword. Although, I would not complain if somebody was willing to give me either. :rolleyes:

I have to admit, the folded steel stuff looks pretty awesome!

BTW, have you heard of Mokume-Gane Metal? I do not think it would work very well for a blade, but may make some awesome scales.
http://www.faceters.com/askjeff/mokume.shtml


Mark.

Well, actually, the first Damascus swords were forged from small cakes of Wootz steel, shipped from (and first appeared) in India between 300BC and AD500. To make wootz steel, the craftsman melted iron and materials that contain carbon, such as charcoal, wood or leaves. They did this in a sealed crucible, which is simply a melting pot able to withstand high temperatures. When the cooled and hardened steel was taken out of the crucible, it was in the shape of a cake. The wootz cakes (which were about the size of hockey pucks and weighed about four pounds) were then shipped to Damascus, where smiths made them into Damascuc blades.

The Japanese swords are layered steel, also a method for combinig steels and enriching it with carbon. The iron oxide sand is smelted with the charcoal in a smelter. The resulting steel is called tamahagane it is non-uniform with varying carbon content. The carbon content of the steel can then be adjusted to the desired amount either by oxidizing or reducing it in the forge. Making Japanese sword requires number of pieces of the three kinds of steel. Shi-n-ka-ne (Body steel), Mu-ne-ka-ne (Ridge steel), Ha-no-ka-ne (Edge steel), Ga-wa-ka-ne (Side steel). All with diferent carbon content. The center steel will be done from 7 times lapel forging steel. The ridge steel will be done from 9 times. The edge steel will be done from 15 times lapel forging and has 32,768 layers. The sword is also tempered diferently in all three parts, done by aplying diferent thickness of clay on the blade, heating it, and then temper in cooling liquid. The the sword cools quicker where the thinner layer of clay is applyed. Clever, huh... This proces also changes the appearence in the blade, making beautiful patterns, and pronouncing the edge (hammon ) of the sword. For me, these swords are the highest achievement in forging.

Nenad