Thread: Damascus Silver Steel

I have a Griffon #79 with Damascus Silver Steel on the blade. 1st off is Silver Steel a mixture of Carbon Steel and Silver? 2nd if that is so is that why they call it Damascus? 3rd if it is Damascus why does it not have the look of the Custom Damascus blades? The way I understand Damascus is 2 metals heated and folded togeather. This Blade is Silver. Can someone please explan before my head explodes. I've seen other makers with the same thing on the blade I've had this Razor for a while and it was it's turn to be cleaned honed and shaved with and I started to think about Damascus Silver Steel so I had to ask the Masses. Thanks

Here are some pic if I did it right

Neil Miller's post at the end of this thread covers the answer to your first question. The term Damascus is most probably a sales pitch. Pictures would be nice.

Here is a bit on metallurgy relating to saw blades but applicable to razors. Scroll down for the info on silver steel. I've always been fascinated that Michael Faraday invented, or discovered silver steel. Here is a Wiki article with more tech info on the current stuff. I've got many vintage razors made with silver steel and up until recently Theirs Issard marked their razors as silver steel. The Damascus notation is pure marketing. What is known as Damascus currently is more accurately described as 'pattern welded steel'.

There isn't even a good way to know if the steel is really silver steel unless you were to have the blade analyzed. And I bet it would come up as just normal steel.

marketing marketing marketing.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

There isn't even a good way to know if the steel is really silver steel unless you were to have the blade analyzed. And I bet it would come up as just normal steel.

marketing marketing marketing.

You know you are probably right I have no idea the only other thing I've noticed is it may be a little bit heavier than another Griffon of the same size. I have a few Griffons it all started when I got my Granddad's from my Dad I went Griffon Stupid for a while what else is there to do when you sit at home all day and read SRP look at fleabay back at SRP back to the bay back and forth all day maybe nap then all over til bed time It's nice to have a Wife 20 years younger. But screws in the Spinal Canal through a Nerve Root really takes a lot out of You and the Drugs make your mind fuzzie I've got a really bad case of CRS. I had to laugh the other day at the thread about what was your 1st 45 something about brain cell mine are all gone ok nap time.

I dont know about silver steel, but I do have a wilbert cutlery razor that has "damascus steel" stamped on it, but it didnt have a pattern in it's steel either. I immagine that's stamped on it because the steel is imported from damascus. if you really want to look there is a controversy over the use of the term damascus steel within the knife making community. some people hate seeing the term applied to modern pattern welded steel. to make a long story short they say "true" damascus steel hasnt been made since the 1300's (don't quote me on that century) I found the whole thing interesting but not interesting enough to go over again.

This blade was obviously a jobber blade, I have found no less than 4 different blades all branded differently but all have the same etch on the blade, same font same size same blade shape. I now have one that is unbranded; does anyone know who actually made these blades?

not sure about it being a "jobber's" (contract) razor. griffon in the original post made their own razors and perhaps made them for others. your razor may have once been branded bot restoration or a very light etch could explain it's loss.

my question though... does it shave well?

enjoy,
jim

I shaves quite nice actually, I do know the one I'm currently hold is unbranded, it's in nearly pristine condition except for honing wear and there's not a lot of that either. All edges on the tang a crisp and no sign of previous work. Even the lightest of stamps would have left some sign on the tang. Griffin was my best guess for the maker as well, of the blades I’ve seen, Griffin is the only one from an actual maker.

I have had this blade for quite awhile and put it up after I started this thread and have never done anything else with it so I have never cleaned or shaved with it maybe someday soon I will get around to it.