Damascus Steel
Posted: Tue Aug 24, 2010 12:29 am
Hi:
Without knowing a GREAT deal about all swords----many for sale are marked "Damascus" (even Katanas) if a "riblike" pattern is perceived on the side of a blade.
the pattern generally indicates an attempt at 'folded forging" in which the folds have not been poliished out.
The patterns shown on some Katane is OK, I guess, but they should not confuse one into thinking the blade in Toledo (in the Moorish Process) or Damascus blade. I think the true process for these blades is 'lost" as is, technically, the formula for "Greek Fire" although suitable substitutes abound in that respect.
Japanese Katanas a meant to be cutters and , because of the typical snadwichiing of steels of varying hardness, one will not see the flexiility of the Toledo/Damascus blades of yore.
A Pattterning also called Damascene or Damascus was used to produuce black powder only frelocks. In this process four or more "sptraplets" of still malleable iron or steel is hammered into shape around a "mandreal" of the proper dimenion iuntill the 'straplets" appear in swirling patterns on the finished barrel.
"Mandrel" forging has since been used for a century and a half with high temperatures and armor grade stell. The hardness and witdh of which could not be duplicated in the old time country gunsmithe's shop.. There are a many ways to make a barrel as there are a sword. "Button" rifling following a deep drill on a "blank seems the more prefreferred.
In a Katane, the harded steel can be used as the core (edge to back strap) or in reverse patern where the hardest steel is wrapped around the softer, but does not extend to the "ha" (cutting edge) of the blade.
J
Without knowing a GREAT deal about all swords----many for sale are marked "Damascus" (even Katanas) if a "riblike" pattern is perceived on the side of a blade.
the pattern generally indicates an attempt at 'folded forging" in which the folds have not been poliished out.
The patterns shown on some Katane is OK, I guess, but they should not confuse one into thinking the blade in Toledo (in the Moorish Process) or Damascus blade. I think the true process for these blades is 'lost" as is, technically, the formula for "Greek Fire" although suitable substitutes abound in that respect.
Japanese Katanas a meant to be cutters and , because of the typical snadwichiing of steels of varying hardness, one will not see the flexiility of the Toledo/Damascus blades of yore.
A Pattterning also called Damascene or Damascus was used to produuce black powder only frelocks. In this process four or more "sptraplets" of still malleable iron or steel is hammered into shape around a "mandreal" of the proper dimenion iuntill the 'straplets" appear in swirling patterns on the finished barrel.
"Mandrel" forging has since been used for a century and a half with high temperatures and armor grade stell. The hardness and witdh of which could not be duplicated in the old time country gunsmithe's shop.. There are a many ways to make a barrel as there are a sword. "Button" rifling following a deep drill on a "blank seems the more prefreferred.
In a Katane, the harded steel can be used as the core (edge to back strap) or in reverse patern where the hardest steel is wrapped around the softer, but does not extend to the "ha" (cutting edge) of the blade.
J