Damascus knives give off a mystical aura, proper of elegant pattern, toughness and durability.
Please imagine that kitchen knives have more aesthetic appeal as well as sharpness and durability, they are sure to get additional value for excellent gifting, gathering and cooking. DAMASCUS bladed kitchen knives are believed to be cutting edge all over the world.
Mysterious History of Damascus Knives
Damascus steel is said to have been first developed and used in Ancient South India and Indian steel technology was superior and spread to the Middle East. the steel was highly prized and the blade was passed down as a hidden dynastic treasure. But today, the original Damascus production method of steel is not known or has been lost. Nevertheless, the beautiful Damascus structure has been successfully reproduced using the latest forging technology, process and materials that might be different from the original Indian ones.
Especially Japan has developed its own excellent production method in forging Katanas (or Swords) and kitchen knives (or Sushi), and it has been successfully applied to the extraordinary sharp and beautiful Damascus blades . Therefore we would be more than happy to introduce these Damascus knives.
Mysterious history in India
"Damascus", also known as "Wootz", is the name of a steel material with a wooden pattern and is thought to have originated from Ancient India. It is also perceived as one of the materials used to build a strong sword. Since much of its manufacturing method has not been fully discovered, it is sometimes associated with something legendary or mysterious.
Close-up of an 18th century Damascus forged steel Persian sword[1].
When did the Damascus steel first appear?
In India there is a huge iron pillar called the "Iron Pillar of Delhi", which is supposedly made of Damascus steel. It is believed to have been placed in the third or fourth century BC. Based on this, it should be correct to assume that the Damascus steel itself began to appear before that time. This Damascus steel had been famous for its unique and distinct design that appeared on its surface and for its rustproof nature.
Scientific research conducted on the "Iron Pillar of Delhi" revealed a startling fact: it is made of forged steel! (not alloy steel).
[2] Iron Pillar of Delhi
The Indian method of steel production has been appreciated for a long time. Round steel chisels and other steel objects have been unearthed in old tombs near Wurre Gaon in Kamptee, thought to have been made around 1500 BC. (some estimate around 600 BC). This means that these steel objects were already manufactured a couple of centuries before the time when the "Delhi Iron Pillar" was established.
"Damascus steel" was known as appropriate for a blade and not for an abutment. The following are examples often cited to indicate the quality and sharpness of the Damascus blade: "If a silk scarf falls on a Damascus blade with the edge up, the scarf will be cut into two pieces in one second just by its weight". "Damascus blades are never chipped even if they are used to cut iron armour." "It is as strong as if it were a willow branch. It won't break even if it's bent. It only takes a second for it to return to its original state - release a blade, and you'll notice it immediately goes back to the way it was."
They all sound a bit exaggerated, but they describe exactly what 'Damascus steel' means. Not only its quality as a blade, but also its mystery - its strength, its unique pattern on its surface and its rustproofing property - are the main reasons why the above examples seem plausible.
In the Crusader period, Damascus swords achieved an unparalleled reputation and were passed down as heirlooms of royal families. Moreover, the Crusaders were proud to have a Damascus sword. Recent research has discovered that the secret of the Damascus blade's sharpness, rust resistance and strength lies in the manufacturing process in which its specific pattern is formed.
A blacksmith from Damascus[3]
Damascus Steel was so famous that it was often exported to neighbouring countries from India, while its method of manufacture was not disclosed at all. It is said that the method of manufacture was only handed down from father to son, therefore, there were only a limited number of people who were familiar with the manufacture of steel. In a short time, guns appeared and gradually took the place of Damascus' steel. The method of making Damascus steel ended 200 years ago, which makes it extremely difficult for us now to reproduce it entirely.
Damascus kitchen knives in the present era
The Damascus steel currently used for a high-end Chef Atelier knife material is laminate, which is forged from various multi-layered steels and has a similar pattern to that which occurs when forging Wootz steel. Currently, layered materials with a hard core inserted in the middle are forged and ground to make a Damascus knife. In its structure, the hard, brittle core material is surrounded and protected by sticky, hard-to-paint layered materials, which makes the Damascus knife not only very sharp, durable and rust-proof, but also beautiful in design.
For this reason, the production of a knife with a beautiful Damascus design has become very popular in recent times. In addition to this, Japanese design, historical sword-making technology and traditional Japanese craftsmanship have added an intriguing flavour to a Damascus knife and made it even more popular all over the world.
References
[1],[3] Wikipedia : Damascus steel
[2] Wikipedia : Iron Pillar of Delhi
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