Damascus steel Blade

knighthawk

knighthawk

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Barry
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this is the blade close up of one of my Damascus knife blades...you can see the unusual metal structure from the forging...i only wish I could afford to buy more..

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d174/kneetrembler67/Knives/DSCF7032.jpg

And from a distance
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d174/kneetrembler67/Knives/DSCF7160.jpg

Staff Edit : Images changed to clickable links. Pictures must not exceed current forum limits as per the rules. Please feel free to replace this with a fresh/resized image and remove this text :)
 
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slt_roopan said:
Good stuff Barry. Your sharpening effect is good.

Which lens did you use for this shot.
Click to expand...

I used my Old tamron SP 90 manual focus lens...the pic is and old one..I just wanted to show the strange metal structure of the blade after 512 layers of steel have been hammered and forged as one solid piece...by the way the lens I have of you is great ..
thanks
 
An interesting photo. The round parts of the pattern have been made by drilling holes in the steel and then forging flat, which brings the bottom of the hole up to the surface and exposes the different layers of steel.

Mick.
 
mick m said:
An interesting photo. The round parts of the pattern have been made by drilling holes in the steel and then forging flat, which brings the bottom of the hole up to the surface and exposes the different layers of steel.

Mick.
Click to expand...
from what I have learned from watching them make them ...they heat the metal up fold it and hammer it and keep repeating the proses over and over again...I wish I had the funds to buy more but sadly there all hand made and very exspensive
 
knighthawk said:
from what I have learned from watching them make them ...they heat the metal up fold it and hammer it and keep repeating the proses over and over again...I wish I had the funds to buy more but sadly there all hand made and very exspensive
Click to expand...

That's pretty much it, comes from the folding, the lines are actually different folds. I love Japanese swords, they are so beautiful http://www.thekeeneredge.com/images/bushi_hada.jpg I really want to get my hands on a hanwei sword by Paul Chen, one of his premium ones :love:
 
 
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The lines in the pattern are not from different folds, but from different layers. The way this steel is made is from two different types of steel. The first bundle of steel will have, lets say 8 layers. 4 of one type of steel and 4 of another. These are stacked up so the layers alternate. This first bundle is forge welded together, so it one solid block of steel with 8 layers. This will then be forged out longer and cut part the way through, then folded back on itself and rewelded. So you now have 16 layers. This process will continue until you have the desired amount of layers. 8-16-32-64-128-256-512, each time the layers double.
The pattern will only become visible when the steel is etched in acid, as one type of steel will be etched away more than the other.

Mick.
 
mick m said:
The lines in the pattern are not from different folds, but from different layers. The way this steel is made is from two different types of steel. The first bundle of steel will have, lets say 8 layers. 4 of one type of steel and 4 of another. These are stacked up so the layers alternate. This first bundle is forge welded together, so it one solid block of steel with 8 layers. This will then be forged out longer and cut part the way through, then folded back on itself and rewelded. So you now have 16 layers. This process will continue until you have the desired amount of layers. 8-16-32-64-128-256-512, each time the layers double.
The pattern will only become visible when the steel is etched in acid, as one type of steel will be etched away more than the other.

Mick.
Click to expand...
Well put Mick....I no most are modern..not sure about all of them as I got them used.....I will get a round to sorting them all out one day along with the Nepalese Khukuris
 
mick m said:
The lines in the pattern are not from different folds, but from different layers. The way this steel is made is from two different types of steel. The first bundle of steel will have, lets say 8 layers. 4 of one type of steel and 4 of another. These are stacked up so the layers alternate. This first bundle is forge welded together, so it one solid block of steel with 8 layers. This will then be forged out longer and cut part the way through, then folded back on itself and rewelded. So you now have 16 layers. This process will continue until you have the desired amount of layers. 8-16-32-64-128-256-512, each time the layers double.
The pattern will only become visible when the steel is etched in acid, as one type of steel will be etched away more than the other.

Mick.
Click to expand...

Damascus steel pattern does seem to differ from the Japanese swords. The patterning in Japanese is known as 'hada' which is caused by the folding of the metal during the forging process. If you would like to learn more about it have a look at this http://token.cz/external/meiboku/guide/form/hada/index.htm it is rather interesting. Not that I know a lot about Damascus knife blades.
 
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Beautiful patterns.

It brought back some memories for me. I did jewelry at Sunderland Poly (years ago) as part of an Art Foundation Course and one of the girls spent 6 weeks making a brooch which was layers of silver, copper etc. pressed, folded, heated, over and over. It had that wonderful marbled pattern. I often wonder if she carried on with the trade.
 
Robbo said:
wow they look cool, how much are these things?
Click to expand...

I fell lucky with mine and got them as a jub lot for just over £400 but you can expect to pay at least that each as they can take weeks to make by very skilled workers...
I dont no if it true but I was informed that the one with the Lion caved in the handle was carved from a Lions Tooth...
 
Loopy, it sounds like you friend at college was making Mokume. Its a similar process but uses non ferrous metals.

All the knives shown above are called Damascus Steel, but strictly speaking the are Pattern Welded blades. This technology dates back to the Roman times, and probably before. One of the best known examples of pattern welding found in this country is the Sutton Hoo Sword which dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, and was buried with its owner around 645 AD.

Here are a few more recent examples of pattern welding,


bladefuller.jpg



aDSC_8166.jpg



_DSC7448.jpg



damascusring.jpg



aDSC_5955-copy.jpg



All the pieces shown above have been made by me.

Mick.
 
mick m said:
Loopy, it sounds like you friend at college was making Mokume. Its a similar process but uses non ferrous metals.

All the knives shown above are called Damascus Steel, but strictly speaking the are Pattern Welded blades. This technology dates back to the Roman times, and probably before. One of the best known examples of pattern welding found in this country is the Sutton Hoo Sword which dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, and was buried with its owner around 645 AD.

Here are a few more recent examples of pattern welding,


bladefuller.jpg



aDSC_8166.jpg



_DSC7448.jpg



damascusring.jpg



aDSC_5955-copy.jpg



All the pieces shown above have been made by me.

Mick.
Click to expand...

Stunning stuff, how much does a ring like that cost?
 
mick m said:
Loopy, it sounds like you friend at college was making Mokume. Its a similar process but uses non ferrous metals.

All the knives shown above are called Damascus Steel, but strictly speaking the are Pattern Welded blades. This technology dates back to the Roman times, and probably before. One of the best known examples of pattern welding found in this country is the Sutton Hoo Sword which dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, and was buried with its owner around 645 AD.

Here are a few more recent examples of pattern welding,


bladefuller.jpg



aDSC_8166.jpg



_DSC7448.jpg



damascusring.jpg



aDSC_5955-copy.jpg



All the pieces shown above have been made by me.

Mick.
Click to expand...
Thats one stunning looking knife....It just goes to show theres still some real crafts men left out there
 
Lee, the ring was made for myself as an experiment with a different type of pattern welding. I don't make these to order as I find making things to fit people is a whole world of pain.
Try looking at these sites for damascus rings www.sarami.nu and www.jloose.com
A couple of people I know have had rings made by J Loose are are really pleased with them.


Mick.
 
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