Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1365706
It caused a lot of disputes among metallurgists and subject researchers. New definitions and divisions were created as due to the definition that Damascus steel is as well a blade encrusted with precious metals on the surface. Jerzy Piaskowski implemented in his book a division that evolved into a division by B.F.J. Hermann which for me is the most simple one and clear one: Ä products made entirely from single alloy – in this category we have products from bulat alloy and with selective acid etching Ä products made of different alloys that differ in coal content/of phosphorus with proper combining them by forge-welding. Such technique of forge welding was proposed by J. Piasecki (and the name is non-translatable). In this category we can find Japanese blades. Ä products made from iron or steel with surfaces encrusted with precious metals. Who is right in the dispute about Damast steel? Generally, the dispute is about does Damascus steel actually exist or not, did technology get lost in the midst of time or do we have products in stores today made from Damascus steel or imitations. Well, both sides are correct and at the same time they are wrong. Let me summarize everything. Summary Nowadays we have a lot of knives made with pattern welding available in stores and according to the original definition by B.F.J. Hermann is a Damascus steel. What was considered Damascus steel in the past (before someone discovered the same effect can be achieved in different ways) did get lost around the 17th century alongside with ore depletion. Thanks to modern knowledge and science, such an effect has been achieved and right now is called bulat alloy or crystalline Damast steel. So, everyone has a share of being right in this dispute. Of course there are a lot of types of dziwer/damast steel ("wild", mosaic) as well as different types of bulat alloy but without further detailed debate – pattern welded damast steel or dziwer as well as crystallin damast steel or bulat alloy fulfill a definition of Damascus steel. The whole problem of this dispute comes from the definition itself that isn't precise and everyone tries to use it to prove their point. Damast steel in Land of the Rising Sun As I mentioned earlier, the bulat alloy has exquisite cutting properties but is very troublesome to forge, expensive and rather brittle. In cold weaponry a pattern welded blades are better because they have similar cutting properties achieved by alternating layers of steel. A term of dziwer can be used to describe blades of Japanese swords as well. Advantage of Japanese blades over COLD STEEL