Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1365706
From where that name originates? Obviously, it originates from the city Damascus in Syria. First Christian crusaders met Muslim weaponry made of metal unknown to them. They had a distinctive wave pattern with alternating light and dark layers of metal. If we believe this legend, Damascus steel was first officially mentioned between the 11th-13th century. Beginnings of Damascus steel making are still not known up to day but for sure it happened earlier than it was officially mentioned. First information can be found in the literature from 6th century A.D. First tools made of this metal were found in the burial ground Gurri Goan in central India, dated from 7th century BC. Products made from this steel were made and sold in Damascus. It was smelted in India and Persian and transported for further processing. After publishing results of excavations in Turkmenistan a theory was made that the ore was transported as well and it was smelted and processed in the final destination but excavations in Damascus never proved that theory to be true. That time, Damascus was a center of trade with multiple workshops and forges that were producing mostly swords, sabers, daggers etc. from the steel as well as half-semi-finished products in the form of rods or – as we would say now - flat bars for further processing. Forging of Damascus steel required a low forging temperature and heavy hammers – more than 400 kgs and it was made in so-called water forges. Shrouded in legends, fairy tales and numerous contradictory theories. Many heard of it but few can say anything particular about damast. I've been crawling in Polish web for a long time and I haven't found many articles as well. COLD STEEL