Does Damascus Steel Outperform Super Steels?

[A. G. Maisey]

I thought Larrin's investigations to be pretty interesting, perhaps nothing unexpected, but really useful to see it all laid out so clearly.

In respect of better cutting ability of damascus if compared to non-damascus blades.

In another lifetime I made a lot of blades, both damascus & non-damascus.

I made simple blades, the materials I used were 01, motor vehicle spring steel, nickel, mild steel, wrought iron.

I made mostly random pattern damascus and I heat treated in the forge, not by sending my blades to a heat-treating company.

As I said:- simple blades.

Cutting tests that I carried out using manilla rope invariably demonstrated that damascus 01 + nickel cut more manilla rope than damascus 01 without nickel, & both cut more manilla rope than 01 & spring steel.

This is purely a comment on my own experience in making, using & selling blades I made myself, I am not up for debate on any aspect of this.

EDIT

It has been pointed out to me that I have only told a part of the story.

The cutting/slicing ability of a blade depends in large part on the heat treatment, yes, blade geometry is important, but it is the heat-treat that provides a long lasting ability to cut --- or not.

In the case of a blade made with non-laminated steel, ie, non-damascus, it is essential to draw the temper to protect against gapping & fragility.

In the case of a laminated blade, it is not necessary to draw a blade if its intended use is to cut/slice, rather than to chop.

If that laminated blade is not drawn it retains the full hardness that was achieved in the quench, thus the cutting ability is retained for longer.