Thread: Why are Damascus steel razors so expensive?

Chris, that personal communique with TI is very informative. It's a very good thing when the company is willing to explain some of the features of their product and not hide behind proprietary rights to protect some secret, that is not really any secret to those with an eye to see. I would be willing to confirm these are small batch, hand forged blades simply on the evidence of the pattern seen. Without knowing the exact steel mixtures or the heat treatment, some of this is discussion left to speculation.

If the steels changed from time to time, based on availability, or a different smith who had a batch ready for sale at the time (other things I don't know but are the province of the marketplace), then the possibility of performance changes at the level that Lynn expresses his concerns can be very real. Just a small change in heat treatment that increases the hardness by 0.5 points makes a satisfying blade to one person and one that is difficult to hone for another.

But, I am refreshed by TI's comments, and forgiving of marketing hype as well. They are in the business of selling razors...and the labelling practices of strange or mystical properties occurred in the razor steel business long before the knife makers, and the metallurgists, came along to push the envelope of better information. It's a rich time to know things.