Thread: Damascus Steel...what's the deal?

Just wondering. I was reading up on my razor facts and saw some Damascus razors advertized. So I googled Damascus Steel and found out that the art has been lost.
So what does a "Damascus" razor mean? And does it truly make a difference?

The new Damascus steel razors are pattern welded Damascus or Damasteel and they are good shavers from what I have heard from others. Beware of Ebay Damascus razors. They are probably just model names and not made from pattern welded Damascus steel.

What's being called "Damascus" steel today really isn't. "Real" damascus is what is known as wootz steel, and Al Pendray is the only guy I know who makes it. What is commonly referred to as damascus is really pattern welded steel, where two or more types of steel are forge welded together, then etched to bring out the resultant pattern. It has some advantages, such as a toothy edge, and it's nearly unbreakable when done right, as any crack would have to follow a circuitous path through multiple layers of steel, which usually have different hardnesses. Plus, it's extremely beautiful. There may be other advantages, but beauty is the main one, IMO. It's expensive, because it's so labor-intensive to make. I can't imagine it would make a better razor, though. More beautiful, yes, but not any better. Now, if you use the san-mai construction, that's a whole different ball game...

PS....ask Charlie about his Maestro/Takeda Damascus which is two layers of Damascus with a high carbon layer forged in between.........awesome shaver. Charlie told me it was too sharp.....lol. Lynn

I believe there is very good Damascus steel that is not "twisted steel" for lack of a better word. I have a twisted steel pocket knife that is beautiful. I would not hestitate trying a Damascus steel that was not twisted steel.