German 'damascus' swords
 

Hi. Examining early 20th century German 'damascus' called presentation swords ( upon a sample I came along in the market) I got confused. I checked several sold swords online. Pattern on most blades look like etching to me. Though many of them inscribed "damast stahl".
Sorry if my question looks silly but is not my field of familiarity . Are they in fact all etching actually, or are there real Damascus ones too? If yes, can you please show examples of the real Damascus on presentation swords?

regards

I'm sorry I do not have any images, but within the last six months or so I did a bit of work on a WWI German Naval Officers sword with a Damascus blade.

The texture was very fine, the owner referred to it as "angel hair".

Someone in the past polished it smooth and chrome plated it, so it was cleaned of the plating and re-etched to reveal the layering.

An etched false Damascus would have been achieved by waxing the blade and "combing" a bit of false layering through the wax. The remaining wax acts as a resist, leaving false layering.

http://www.armasblancas.com.ar/foros...e-damasco.html

hello

I would include a thread on the subject, which was published in the Argentine knives forum. Sorry, but I do not have the translation.

Fernando K

Yes from WWI through WWII Germany did in fact make damascus blades for presentation swords. In WWII these included SS and SA daggers with damascus steel blades. These are not made by wax etch, but true laminates of different steels in making the damascus. They were awarded for special officers and special service.

Here is a link to one such example as well as the attached picture:

http://www.thirdreichdepot.com/ss/ss671.html

Fernando,

I read that thread but apart from showing and discussing a German damascus sword, it did not provide any useful information, at least from my point of view.

However, if you would like to have something translated from that threa, I;ll be happy to oblige.


Cheers
Chris

Hi, Chris

The thread is set if a real damask or has been achieved with acid, etched, as was the original question, which gave rise to this thread

Fernando K

Fernando,

Yes, you are right.

From time to time one sees "Damascus" German swords coming up for sale, so they are definitely around.

Cheers
Chris

I must admit, it is possible that wax resist method is used for the letters of a German damascus blade......