lots of good stuff in preceding posts.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mparker762
Keep in mind that there are two very different steels that are called "damascus". The pattern-welded type, which is made from folding and forge-welding steels into layers, is what we've been discussing in this thread. The other type of damascus is the middle-eastern type made from wootz steel, which is the basis for many of the wild claims about damascus's cutting ability and durability.
.......
MParker may have given us the best summary in a single post.
Others are clearly mixing old technology and modern technology
(and descriptions) which may be adding to the confusion.
Wootz is interesting and the best summary I could fine is here:
Wootz steel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A key component of wootz is the micro carbides which are uncommon
in good razor steels (traces of tungsten and/or vanadium).
Modern Damascus mostly refer to pattern-welded types that
are are just beautiful.
If my information is correct Japanese swords were folded from iron
and with each fold and weld carbon was introduced building up
the carbon content and reducing the slag factor. In some cases
the carbon was introduced by setting the blade in straw then hammering
the weld tight.
Welding has also come a long way. Modern smiths use flux that
some of the old folks did not have. The old guys almost had to
burn the steel to get it to weld -- right at the harry edge.
Some of the more interesting modern pattern Damascus is generated by
explosive welding out in the desert. This drastically reduces the cost
of some very interesting patterned steel.
Then there are modern clad steel where the central layer has a
composition that is unsuitable for the entire blade. Often this center
is brittle/ fragile high carbon steel surrounded by a less brittle or less
costly iron or steel. At one time quality steel was expensive to the
point that it was often welded to less costly iron. Carpentry tools
and even single bevel Japanese sushi knives are good examples of
this.
Shun has taken advantage of modern welding and cladding by
cladding a central vg10 core with nicely patterned but tougher
outer layers. It really does work for kitchen knives. Shun uses
v10 for the inner core which has a lot of carbides in the end product.
As for modern Damascus and razors -- I do not know how well
they shave. Now if some one was willing to loan me a handful
of different makes and styles I would be happy to embark on a 25 year
study. My fee would be to keep two of the samples.:)