Damascus in a pipe how to do. Damascus steel. Knife Care

The art of metal forging is currently undergoing a renaissance. The skill of such blacksmiths-gunsmiths as Leonid Arkhangelsky, Sergey Danilin, Andrey Koreshkov testifies that Russian weapon art and traditions of blade making remain unsurpassed to this day.

The articles published by master blacksmiths widely cover the issue of the history of their art, the theoretical basis for the manufacture of, say, cast damask steel, but I am sure that many people read these articles in order to get an answer to the questions: “How is this done?”, “C what to start? and similar ones, but, at best, they stumble upon a statement of the fact of the complexity of such art and its accessibility only to the initiated. In this article I will try to cover the art of a blacksmith-gunsmith from scratch, for those who want to start doing this. the most exciting activity, but does not know from which edge to get close to him. The article will be devoted mostly to complex technological composites. The fact is that I began to get acquainted with the art of forging from independent attempts to get Damascus steel, therefore, first of all, I rely on readers who, as they say, “rave about Damascus” I will touch on basic forging techniques very moderately - firstly, this and so devoted enough literature; secondly, to learn how to simply forge, you can find a private forge and work as an apprentice for several months, but it is difficult to become an apprentice to an eminent blade maker who makes patterned composites. I hope that this article compensates for this injustice a little. I will also not touch on the problem of hardening in this article - competent hardening of steel, especially Damascus steel - the material is limitless, but basic information on hardening steels with different carbon contents can be gleaned from metal science textbooks. I want to make a reservation right away that these materials are in no way a guide to the manufacture of edged weapons, which, let me remind you, in accordance with Art. 223 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation is a criminal offense. A plate of hand-forged Damascus, polished and etched, will bring you at first no less satisfaction than a knife or sword. I am going to talk about how to make the MATERIAL, and I am not responsible for the further use of this material. In the absence of a license to manufacture weapons or if it is impossible to find a job at an enterprise that has such a license, you can always find a way to do what you love without violating the norms of the Criminal Code and the Law of the Russian Federation “On Weapons”.

Set up a forge

So let's get started. First of all, you need equipment. Some of it will need to be purchased, some you can make yourself. You should start by determining the territory on which your blacksmith workshop will be located. If you have a suburban land plot- wonderful, even in the most primitive version of the forge - in the open - forging from April to November is provided for you. In addition, open-air forging automatically solves the important problem of removing gaseous products of fuel combustion, most of which are toxic. In order not to depend on the weather, it is necessary to install a canopy on poles over the place of the future forge, the roof of which must be made of iron sheet, since the temperature even two meters above the mountain is sufficient for a quick fire. If you do not have the opportunity to work in the bosom of nature, then the forge can be equipped indoors. The main problems that arise in this case are the hood and fire safety. In addition, the use of a forge, for example, a garage requires much more capital investment and is associated with great organizational difficulties. Wherever you are located, flammable and flammable building materials and substances cannot be used near the fire of the forge, the floor, ceiling and walls of the room must be metal or concrete, and a powerful hood must be located above the mountain. Personally, I still prefer to work outdoors under a canopy and in my experience, this is possible even in winter.

Necessary blacksmith tools

Having decided on a place for the workshop, it is necessary to solve the "blacksmith's main issue" - the issue with the tool. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to buy a blacksmith tool now. Items that are essential to purchase include:

Mosaic Damascus

"Mosaic Damascus" is called steel, in which sections with different types of patterns are welded together. The possibilities for imagination are endless here. I propose to make a damascus, with a Sutton Hoo smoke pattern, after the name of a fossil Scandinavian sword.

Weld a package consisting of 7 layers of three steels - St3 (gives a white metallic color when pickled), U8 (black) and any spring steel (gray). Alternation can be anything. The finished plate should turn out to be wide and thick enough so that 8 bars of square section with a thickness and a width of about 7-8 mm can be cut from it. You may have to make several plates. The length of the bars should be about 30 cm. After that, mark sections of 4 cm on each of the bars. By heating and clamping the bars in a vise, twist half the bars in one direction (say, clockwise) and half in the other. Twisting will occur in sections, so that twisted sections alternate with untwisted ones. Try to keep the twisted and untwisted areas on all bars in the same places. After that, forge each bar again, restoring their square section along the entire length.

Now take four rods - two, twisted in each direction. Lay them side by side on a workbench, making sure the layers of metal in each bar are facing you. The twisted sections will touch and alternate. A bar twisted clockwise next to a bar twisted counterclockwise, and so on. You will get a package that resembles folded fingers. Lay a few thick nails across the bag on each side - these can be removed later - and weld with electric welding, fastening the bag. Weld also a rod-handle. Since the package thickness is small, it is possible to flux directly before forge welding. Heat the bag until scarlet, sprinkle thickly with borax on two flat sides, and heat further. Welding is performed at the highest possible, but excluding overheating, temperature, very light (to prevent delamination of the package in the form of a fan) with hammer blows. They are applied along the side surface of the package, and not along the wide plane. Mastering this art, which is called end welding, is not easy. First, it makes sense to practice on square steel bars so as not to spoil the complex puff steel.

As a result, you should get two monolithic plates. Each consists of four sections of bars twisted in opposite directions. By itself, such steel is not very strong, so it should be welded onto the base. The base can be either Damascus or simple (in this case the best option- a plate from a released and forged spring). In size, it should match the resulting mosaic plates. The base is collected in a package with the resulting plates and welded together. It turns out a finished piece of steel, the surfaces of which have beautiful pattern like smoke from a candle. A product made of such Damascus should be forged very carefully, trying to achieve the closest possible shape precisely by forging. When turning with a grinder or on a wheel, the pattern may deteriorate. Start grinding work only when the shape of the future product is indicated in almost all details. Watch for uniform deformation of the metal during forging so that the core and outer patterned plates do not move relative to each other.

Making a mosaic, and indeed any other Damascus, is fascinating. For the sake of pleasure from steel, unique in its beauty and properties, it is worth looking for your own ways, and not being afraid to start over again and again. Good luck in your endeavors, and may Velund, the ancient patron of Scandinavian blacksmiths, help you!

The desire to make Damascus steel with your own hands must have a certain expediency. The appearance of such material is explained quite simply. For several millennia, progress depended on the level of development of weapons technology. In order to have a light and durable weapon, suitable materials were sought. You can swing a heavy sword, intimidating the enemy. Having a handy sword of light weight, it is easier to hit an enemy clad in armor.

Even large-sized knights (heroes), dressed in armor, often could not oppose anything to nimble opponents armed with light swords, swords and broadswords. Strong and sharp steel found flaws in the protection, penetrated into the joints of armor, inflicting mortal wounds. The special strength made it possible to produce convenient weapons with a small mass.

Bulat and Damascus

Drawing of Damascus steel on a saw cut of metal:

The term Damascus steel appeared relatively recently. In various sources, a similar name for a forged product began to appear in the middle of the 19th century. Prior to this, the name "Gurda" was more often used, as the creations of blacksmiths from the Caucasus and Mesopotamia were called. There they began to forge products from a mixture of alloys, achieving an unusual pattern on the surface of the blades.

Bulat, as historical studies show, came from India. In museums of history, samples of weapons have been preserved, where casting blanks made of alloyed steel were used. Most often they contain chromium, the concentration of which can reach up to 14%.

However, damask production is designed only for individual production. Therefore, the technology is quite expensive. The master spends a lot of time to make a certain sample. When it comes to mass production, they do not count on complex technology.

Only Zlatoust Armory(the only thing large enterprise) produces damask blades. By special order, Damascus steel products are produced. Prices for goods are high, but there is a stable demand for products not only within Russia, but also abroad.

The metallurgist Pavel Petrovich Anosov was engaged in the study of production technology and the creation of industrial technologies. The results of his work are present in all textbooks on metallurgy and blacksmithing.

Modern damask steel in products - a replica of the HP-40 knife in a modern design, made to order:

During the Great Patriotic War the plant produced army knives and checkers for the cavalry. Quite a lot of weapons since that time are currently being sold on various Internet resources. Modern blacksmiths produce a remake (the so-called products that are made in the image and likeness of old samples). Several hundred workshops offer copies that are difficult to distinguish from the original.

Scout knife NR-40, made in 1942 - more than 7 million copies were produced:

Judging by the number of offers and prices, we can conclude that the individual product is in stable demand. The production of products from damask steel and Damascus steel can be quite interesting and profitable business.

Modern knife HP-40, made according to the samples of the period of the Great Patriotic War:

Experts see the difference between damask steel and Damascus steel in the feedstock:

1. Damask steel is an alloy in which there is a significant amount of alloying elements; during subsequent forging, platinum is connected by forging welding, which gives the product a complex of new properties.
2. Damascus is a mechanical connection of metal blanks that differ in their properties. Forging up to several tens of layers is performed.

Use of high quality steel in products

Not only weapons need durable materials. Structural materials with special properties are used in a wide variety of industries.

Forged products are used in cars, railway transport, agricultural machines, and space ships. Only a very simplified technology is used. Forging is used to obtain fine grains in the structure of the metal. Possible shells that are present in the castings are eliminated.

An example of a modern blade with a pronounced pattern:

For Damascus steel, note the pros and cons.

Positive characteristics

• High strength of the product, withstands the load applied in different directions (compressive, tensile, bending and other types of loads).
• Wear resistance of the cutting edge, keeps sharpness for a long time.
• It has an unusual appearance, it is impossible to repeat the pattern on a similar object, making it recognizable.
• High implementation cost.

A special kind of Damascus steel made from wire rope:

The listed advantages often attract craftsmen to engage in production using the technology of multiple forging of blanks. For each new batch of goods, their own methods and sequence of forging can be used.

Flaws

The main disadvantage is the high labor costs for the production of the product. You have to resort to repeated heating of the workpiece.

High carbon steel is susceptible to corrosion. To the question: “Does it rust?” It can be answered unequivocally that without proper care, rust quickly destroys the product.

Even at home, it is advisable to regularly care for items made of Damascus steel. They are wiped with vegetable or mineral oils, and then the excess is removed with a dry rag. Original weapons are processed at least once a year. Then it stays for a long time.

Finca in Damascus steel, modern product:

Equipping a workshop for the production of products

In the workshop of a home craftsman who wants to make Damascus steel products, you need to have:

1. Welding machine- with its help, plates of materials of different strength are welded into a single block, which can be processed together.
2. Forge - it heats blanks from finished objects to high temperatures (more than 800 ⁰С).
3. An anvil is needed for forging. Forge welding is performed by the deformation method, the shape of the part changes at different stages of processing.
4. A set of hammers and hammers helps to strike with different strengths. When they work together, the lead blacksmith, with blows of a light hammer, shows the helper places for striking with a heavy hammer.
5. A vice is used to fix workpieces at different stages of work.
6. Drilling machine required for drilling holes.
7. The grinding machine is used more often than others, on which products are shaped and sharpened.
8. A grinder is a variant of a sharpening machine, the distinguishing feature is the use of an abrasive coated tape glued into a ring. With the help of a grinder, smooth slopes are formed at a given angle.
9. Machine for the manufacture of descents. High-quality sharpening to razor sharpness is possible only on a special device that allows you to move along a strictly defined trajectory.
10. Bulgarian with a set of cutting and cleaning discs. A simple tool helps you perform a wide variety of activities.

Sharpening the blade on the grinder:

In addition to the main set of machines and fixtures, many craftsmen additionally use woodworking equipment. It helps to make handles from durable wood species. Small lathes help create intricate fittings that decorate finished items.

Homemade miniature grinder, grinding descents:

In workshops that produce quality knives, there are rollers. On them, heated billets are rolled in order to obtain a plate of a certain thickness. Do-it-yourself Damascus steel is obtained after repeated forging and rolling through rollers.

The presence of a crank hammer helps to forge the workpiece with a series of numerous blows. Pneumatic or hydraulic press is used for volumetric compression of metal. With one movement, the desired geometry is attached.

Some craftsmen have matrices and punches that allow plastic deformation to give a standard shape, for example, to push a fuller on a blade (used to stiffen while reducing weight).

Blanks for the production of damask steel

It is not difficult to make damask steel; for its production, steels and alloys with predetermined properties are used. Finished products and special ingots are used. Blacksmith workshops use scrap metal or parts purchased in trading network. The table shows the materials that are most often used for the manufacture of forged items.

Step-by-step technology for making damask steel from a bearing

Products from finished ingots or blanks are produced in the following sequence.

The inner ring of the bearing is made of ShKh-15 alloy. It is sawn with a cutting disc of a grinder, sent to the furnace for heating. The desired heating temperature is 900 ... 950 ⁰С.

The workpiece is held on the anvil with blacksmith tongs. Beating the bulges with a hammer, a strip is formed from the ring.

Remove hollows from the strip.

On the grinder give the desired shape.

With the help of a special mandrel, the workpiece is held. A constant angle allows you to create the same slopes on both sides.

The final shape of the product is obtained by turning.

GOI paste and an auxiliary velvet roller help to polish the surface.

After polishing, a finished blade is obtained. It remains to make a handle, bolster and sheath. Then the product can be considered finished.

Blanks for the production of Damascus

Any craftsman can make Damascus steel at home; for this, sets of alloys are used. They contain soft and hard inclusions. By combining them with each other, they achieve blades with pronounced structural patterns.

The following combinations are shown in the table. Some workshops offer their own options. The proposed schemes give best performance.

Starting production in your own workshop, find out how much it costs ready product, not difficult. Many online shopping sites list prices. As you gain experience and improve the quality of the product, you can increase the price of your products.

Video: how to make Damascus steel?

Step-by-step instructions for making a knife from a cable and a strip from a file

Damascus steel and a product made from it are more difficult to make. But finished sample will look more attractive. Below is the sequence for making the blade.

From several segments of the cable, blanks are prepared. They are welded with stainless steel rods. The cable is a hard metal, and stainless steel is a soft, ductile material.

Flushing is carried out before starting work. Used in diesel fuel. It is desirable to wash the existing organic inclusions.

The primary firing takes place in the muffle furnace.

Borax helps to get rid of scale. At high temperature, the slag will not linger inside the billet.

First cleaning forging. Weak blows. It is necessary to mechanically shake out possible slags, then shells will not form.

Forging with a light hammer allows you to give a rectangular shape. First, the surface layer is compacted.

Forging with a heavy hammer is carried out to seal the entire internal space. The task of this operation is to obtain a monolithic product.

On the machine, a strip of the desired size is created. Now the workpiece, according to its parameters, turns into a plate.

After forging on the machine, the desired pattern appears on the workpiece.

If you do not like the appearance, then you can reforge. Skillful craftsmen often reforge the plate several times, and then twist the workpiece. Then the original stars are formed.

The future cutting edge is welded. For it, a strip from a file is used, in which U10 steel is used. On the edge, the hardness is HRC 60…63. The rest of the blade will remain plastic.

The handle is forged on a heavy press of 120 tons.

The blade takes on the desired shape. Heating more than 900 ⁰С makes the metal very ductile.

The handle is forged.

The finished forging already has a rather attractive appearance. It is necessary to grind down the slopes so that the cutting edges are formed.

The slopes are finished. The blade is ready for further work. The hardest part of the job is done.

The drawing on the blade shows that the item is made of Damascus steel.

Blade options. None of them will ever happen again. Each will have only its inherent structure. With the help of acid, a deeper pattern is achieved.

More possible variant. If at the stage of welding of future elements the thickness of the cable and stainless steel is changed, then new types of Damascus can be obtained each time.

Using other materials, you can create other types of blades.

The modern shade of Damascus steel is different from the original Damascus from the past. Historically, Damascus was considered a crucible. It had a very high carbon content and had a characteristic surface due to its crystal structure.

Damascus steel got its name because the crusaders on their way to the Holy Land acquired new blades from this excellent steel (superior to medieval European steel) in the city of Damascus. However, the modern version of steel has little in common with the past and is more like acid-etched steel.

Damascus, which is shown here, is one of the most modern options. Rope Damascus is perhaps one of the easiest ways to forge Damascus with a complex pattern. Unlike other methods, this method does not require folding and, in fact, has a ready-made shape.

Step 1: Security measures

The most important thing is safety. The manufacturing process involves forging, grinding, and dipping metal in chemicals, so it's important to use the proper safety equipment.

For the forge welding (forging welding) phase, many people who perform any blacksmithing operations know the basic safety equipment: gloves, apron, closed shoes, etc. However, the conditions are not always met. Everyone knows that eye protection is important, but for this kind of work, you need special kind protection. The above and the only photo in this section are neodymium glasses. The reason for this is that such glasses are simply necessary for such work.

Experts often neglect this protection, but do not repeat after them. The heat required for forge welding creates radiation that can cause loss of vision over a long period of time. Neodymium glass, however, blocks most of the radiation and keeps your eyes safe. Please note: neodymium goggles are not the same as welding helmets or sunglasses. By using them in forge welding, your pupils will expand and your eyes will receive even more radiation.

Step 2: Making blanks

Before you start working with a cable, you need to prepare. Before it gets into the fire, you need to cut off the part you need, as in the first photo. I cut 3 pieces of 30 cm cable with a diameter of 2.5 cm using a cut-off saw. You can cut the cable in any other way, as long as you make sure that the cable you are using is made of steel without the use of plastic and that the steel is not galvanized, as heat reacting with the coating will emit gases that can lead to severe poisoning and even of death. Keep this in mind when looking for a cable.

In addition, if you are trying to make this kind of product for the first time, you may not immediately take such a thick cable, but take, for example, a diameter of 1 - 1.5 cm. You will not get a large and thick product, but you will practice well before more complex projects.

Be sure to tighten the cable ends with steel wire after cutting. This is done so that the weaving does not bloom during the first stages of work. Be sure to use plain steel wire, because other wires that are coated or made from a different material can melt or react with heat and ruin the entire product.

Everyone who makes Damascus steel with their own hands has their own list of steps or secrets that seem to speed up and simplify the process of making. I urge you by trial and error to come to own plan optimal for you personally.

I start by soaking my cold metal in WD40 until it's completely saturated and then dousing it all with regular borax before putting it on the fire. Both borax and WD40 are needed to prevent oxidation, which can make forge welding impossible.

Borax usually doesn't stick to metal when it's hot or wet, and WD40 won't burn in the forge, so I wet the metal with WD40 first and then sprinkle it with borax, which is my best bet.

Step 3: Forge Welding

After placing the product in the oven, heat it to a bright orange or yellow color. Once it reaches the appropriate temperature, let it rest for another minute or so so that all of the metal absorbs the heat and heats up evenly.

Before you can make strikes, you need to twist the cable. It is filled with empty space, which is bad for forge welding. Secure one end of the cable in a vise or something similar, and take the other with any handy tool, which you find suitable (I used pliers) to twist the sections in the direction that the cable is already twisted.

This step may require several reheats. Continue twisting the cable until it stops twisting. Make sure the cable doesn't kink as the whole process will become much more difficult.

Each time, before you put the cable in the fire, you need to sprinkle it with borax until the metal becomes homogeneous. To make sure that the borax sticks to the metal, pour it at the moment when the product is bright red. An important point: when the borax melts, it becomes caustic and can damage the walls of your forge from the inside, so make sure that the bricks in your forge are fireproof.

In addition, hot borax on the skin can be quite painful and can leave scars, so be sure to wear appropriate equipment. The final part of forge welding is the welding itself. When the item is hot, you can start hitting it. The idea is to first knock it out in the shape of a square bar. When you hit, you have to watch the cable turn. Personally, I prefer to start in the middle and work my way to the ends.

Impacts will cause the fibers to separate from each other, so it is necessary to minimize the distance from the first impact to the next. You will understand that the product has become homogeneous by the modified sound that will be emitted upon impact. Initially, it will be more deaf, but as soon as the metal becomes homogeneous, the sound will become bright and resonant. As soon as it becomes homogeneous, you can begin to give the desired shape.

Step 4: Shaping

When planning your project, be sure to keep in mind that the end result will be much smaller than the original cable. Also be aware that cable ends may come loose and not weld. Don't worry just find where it starts weld and cut off the end. Due to the nature of the cable and the amount of gaps and protrusions in it, you are bound to encounter holes and holes unless you are using an air hammer or forging press.

The bottom line is to crunch the cable, see what you're dealing with, and build from there. I decided to make pendants in the form of a drop-shaped shield from my segment. The finer the grit you use in the final sanding, the better the pattern will show up. Since I wanted to achieve a very deep etch, I didn't need to sand too smooth. Enough sandpaper 120 grit before etching.

Step 5: Final Stage and Protection

Damascus steel should look like one solid piece of metal. To get a drawing, you need to pickle the steel with acid. There are several uses for acids, but I personally use ferric chloride. If you want to get a very superficial etch, such as an image on the surface, you only need to dip the metal in acid for about 20 minutes.

I wanted to get a very deep etch that you could feel, so I submerged my workpiece for 7 hours. Once you have finished pickling, you must clean the metal and neutralize the acid. One of the easiest ways to do this is to simply spray glass cleaner on the engraved piece after it has been rinsed with water. Don't forget to wear gloves and eye protection for all of this. If you want to add some color to the item like in the last two photos, just heat it up a little after etching until the desired color is achieved.

Once the etching is done, the last step is to protect the metal. Steel is strong, but, unfortunately, tends to rust. If the piece you are using needs to be practical, like a knife, you can apply wax to its surface.

If the piece is more decorative, you can apply a clear coat. It all depends on preference. Personally, I decided to try nail polish. I usually use clear polyurethane, but this time I decided to try something new. After the part is varnished, all that's left is to enjoy the look of it.

Step 6: One last moment

The piece I made does not require any hardening or heat treatment because it is a decorative piece. If you decide to make a blade out of cable, you need to keep in mind that when hardened, the steel tends to deform in the direction of the twisting of the cable. If you want a practical material, make it thicker, otherwise you might start with a knife and end up with a corkscrew.

Step 7: Addition

Here are some more link pendants. To get a very deep etch, they were all etched for almost 24 hours. They were all heated to different temperatures to develop different colors. In the end they were coated with polyurethane to prevent rust.

Quite an unusual metal can be called Damascus steel. For its manufacture, the blacksmith must have a lot of experience. Damascus steel is characterized by the fact that a heterogeneity of the structure is observed over the entire surface. The resulting patterns look quite attractive, and therefore the material is used in the manufacture of various decorative items, for example, collectible knives. This metal has a large number of features, which we will discuss in more detail below.

refined steel

A variety of Damascus can be called refined steel. Considering how to make Damascus steel, we note that in this case, a homogeneous block of metal is taken as a blank for forge welding. Among the features, we note the following points:

Almost all Damascus until the 18th century was represented by refined steel. A common misconception is that in the manufacture of Japanese samurai blades similar metal was used.

Welding Damascus

Experienced blacksmiths, by combining workpieces with different carbon concentrations, were able to obtain a material that has exceptional performance.

Advantages and disadvantages

Among the features of welding Damascus are:

The main disadvantage of this metal can be called low corrosion resistance. The almost complete absence of alloying elements in the composition and the high concentration of carbon causes corrosion to form on the metal surface.

The metal in question can be recognized by an unusual pattern on the surface. This optical effect is due to the uneven distribution of carbon in the structure. In order to improve the decorative qualities of the product, quite often the surface is subjected to additional polishing and etching. Today, many people use Damascus because of the interesting optical effect, but in the past, special performance qualities were more appreciated.

cast steel

Persian-Indian crucible steel with a high carbon concentration has gained the most fame. Foundry damask steel is also distinguished by an unusual pattern, which manifests itself due to the formation of a matrix of carbide and ferrite. To do this, the structure is slowly cooled.

To the features of foundry damask steel the following points can be included:

In conclusion, we note that the type of metal under consideration appeared many centuries ago. Today it is used in most cases in the manufacture of knives or blades, as well as some interior decorations. Modern alloys bypass Damascus in almost all respects. Interest in Damascus was maintained over a long period due to various myths that weapons made from such a metal made a warrior almost invincible.

There are many opinions about Damascus steel. Someone claims that her recipe is lost. And when you say that it is Damascus steel, they look with a smile and leave. Others have heard little about it at all, and ask ridiculous questions, “What is this drawn with?” or "Why is the blade not polished?".

Of course, in fairness, it should be noted that from year to year there are fewer and fewer ignorant people (especially in the city of Moscow). Once a person works with a knife made of high-quality Damascus once, he will never acquire a knife made of any other steel.

In terms of cutting properties, high-quality Damascus steel surpasses steel of other grades (be it 65X13, 440C, 95X18) several times. Its only drawback is that it rusts. Therefore, she needs constant care. He worked with a knife - wiped it dry, smeared it with neutral oil or grease and removed it. If suddenly rusty spots appear on the steel, they need to be removed with very fine sandpaper with oil or better with kerosene. In principle, caring for such a knife is no more than caring for a gun with non-chrome-plated bores. All the troubles are compensated by excellent cutting properties (which cannot be compared with any stainless steel: both domestic and imported). Let's analyze what is the secret of the cutting properties of Damascus steel. First, in manufacturing technology. Damascus is made in the following way. It is the result of a long technological process performed only manually. Several types of steels (both hard and soft) are taken as a basis, which are assembled in a certain sequence to form a package (We do not name steel grades, because the secret of good Damascus steel lies precisely in the correct selection and proportions of various metals). A prerequisite is that hard steels are taken more than soft ones. The steel package is placed in the hearth and heated to the forging temperature. After that, special additives are applied to prevent the formation of oxides that interfere with the plates. different kind weld together. Next, the package is pierced several times with a hammer and sent to the hearth for heating for welding. As soon as the package warms up, it is deposited under the hammer, then sent back to the hearth and warmed up for subsequent stretching. When the plate is welded and shaped to size, it is reheated and chopped into required amount plates, which are cleaned of oxide and collected in a package. The whole process is repeated from the beginning. The number of repetitions of the process is proportional to the quality of the product, according to the order. After the welding process, and there can be from three to ten, the plate is forged to the required blade size. Then the steel is normalized and the workpiece goes to further work. Steel obtained in this way is characterized by increased strength, excellent cutting properties and beauty. Damascus LLC "Russian Bulat" has from 400 layers of metal and more. As a result of the process, a unique pattern appears, as unique as fingerprints.

Sometimes at exhibitions you have to hear that a purchased Damascus steel knife quickly became dull. The answer is simple. Either a person bought "Damascus" (i.e. stainless steel 65X13, 95X18 pickled in a special way), or he purchased Damascus, welded from soft metals. Such metal is much easier and faster to weld. It is almost impossible to visually distinguish it from high-quality Damascus. Soft Damascus was previously used to make guns, because. for these purposes, viscosity was required and the cutting properties of the metal were not needed. A soft Damascus knife (no matter how beautiful its design is!), Cuts worse than any stainless steel knife. When trying to harden such a knife, no matter how hard you try, it is often not harder than 48 units. HRC. The knife of the company "Russian Bulat" has a hardness of at least 60 units. HRC (and usually 62-64 HRC). Some believe that a knife at 64 units. HRC becomes brittle.

This is true for homogeneous steels (U10, 95X18), but does not apply to properly forged Damascus. This, of course, does not mean that a knife with a hardness of 64 units. HRC can be bent into a ring! But with limited contact with bones (when butchering an animal), as well as with small chopping blows, this combination of hardness and elasticity is quite enough. A good knife steel should be not only hard, but also flexible. Let's answer the question: "How does a knife blunt?". This happens in two ways. If you look at the cutting edge of a blunt knife under a microscope, you can consider two situations:

The cutting edge is bent. (This indicates that the steel is too soft);

The cutting edge has broken off. (This indicates that the steel is too hard).

On the hunt, I had to watch the work of a knife made of steel 95X18. The owner assured that he bought the knife for decent money from one of the famous masters (When selling the knife, they touted it: hardness 70 HRC units, steel taken from a spaceship wreckage, laser sharpening, etc.). But when the hunt came to an end, the elk was taken, the owner of the “wonderful knife” came up to the huntsman and offered to work with the knife. Five minutes later, the huntsman politely returns the knife and advises to buy something better (they say, such a knife is only suitable for cutting lard and sausage!). The owner is offended and tries to butcher the beast himself.

He is surprised to notice that the knife slides, but does not cut .... And the reason is the following. The knife was really hardened to the utmost hardness. Steel 95X18 does not differ in particular flexibility, and when quenched over 60 units. HRC generally loses all elasticity. In this case, at the beginning of work, the cutting edge simply broke off. And visually it is not noticeable. When you try to sharpen the knife again, everything repeats. Often the cutting edge breaks off during the sharpening process, so a paradox is obtained: you sharpen the blade, the blade grinds, but the knife is still dull!

Another situation with mild steel. For example, 40X13. The cutting edge bends when blunting such a knife. Cutting with such a knife is possible if you keep a stone for dressing with you - you worked a little, shuffled over the stone, worked again, shuffled again. It's definitely better than the first one!

From stainless steel, the optimal brand is 65X13. Although it is far from high-quality Damascus. Often this steel grade is called medical steel. For people brought up in the Soviet Union, the terms "medical", "military", "space" act magically. 65X13 is a good steel for knives. But the term "medical" is difficult to apply to it. Firstly, scalpels made of steel 65X13 began to be made only at the end of the 80s, and before that they used carbon steels U8, U10 chrome plated.

Secondly, the tasks of the surgeon, who makes very small incisions during the operation, and the hunter, butchering an elk or a bear, are completely different. In addition, the medical scalpel is not reused during operations (scalpels with disposable removable blades soon appeared). Therefore, the term "medical" steel is not yet binding. Although we have been using this steel for inexpensive models for a long time.

Let's get back to Damascus steel knives. These knives, manufactured by the Russian Bulat company, were tested by hunters in various parts of the country. In 99% - a positive assessment of the work of the knife is given. 1% - are people who use the knife for other purposes. (For example, there was a Mr. who tried to cut a tractor valve with a knife, another, in a fair amount of drunkenness, threw a knife at a tree, etc.). According to the reviews of various hunters, two elks in a row were skinned and butchered with a knife without additional sharpening; five small boars; large billhook; a few beavers. Maslennikov V.S. I personally tried to remove the skin from two moose with a knife from one sharpening (the knife continued to cut after that!). If you look under magnification at the cutting edge of a Damascus knife after butchering an elk, we will see a micro-saw. It turned out due to the fact that the soft steels were slightly crumpled, while the hard ones remained sharp due to the additionally acquired viscosity during the forging process. Therefore, when we look at the cutting edge of the knife after a long work, the blade shines in places and it seems that the knife has become dull, and when we start cutting, it turns out that the knife cuts no worse than a new one! Even when the Damascus knife is completely dull, it is enough to gently correct it with a sharpening stone to restore the cutting properties. Here the effect of straightening the soft parts of the cutting edge is triggered. After a long work, in a winter hut or at a hunting base, the knife must be wiped, the cutting edge corrected on a good stone, lubricated with oil and put into a case.

The question that interests many is “Which is better: Damascus or bulat?”. What is Damascus and what is bulat? Steel, prepared from plates in the process of hearth welding, is commonly called "Damascus". Steel, melted in a crucible and cooled in a special way, is commonly called "bulat". There is also an intermediate technology, when cast plates are mixed with other steels, by means of forge welding. Good damascus and good damask steel from a consumer point of view are one and the same. The same hardness, the same micro-saw effect, is also easy to sharpen... Bad Damascus and bad damask steel are the same: neither one nor the other will cut! In order not to buy a bad knife, you need to purchase a knife from a well-known company with a quality guarantee.

Now there are many different individual entrepreneurs and new firms that are engaged in the production of knives recently. Previously, the organizers of these firms were engaged in anything but metalworking; and absolutely not versed in metals. They do not have the necessary production base, blades are not made, but bought up, where it is cheaper .... When buying a knife from such firms, it is difficult to hope that it will serve for a long time (although there are no rules without exceptions). Although the prices of many individual entrepreneurs for Damascus knives are quite low (from 900 rubles to 1500 rubles). When purchasing a knife, it should be remembered that, subject to the technological process, a knife made of Damascus steel will cost from 2000 rubles. up to 3500 rub. Tempted by cheaper knives, you run the risk of remembering the proverb: “The miser pays twice!” Cast damask steel is somewhat more expensive to manufacture than Damascus. Question: “Why does one and the same firm have one Damascus knife worth 3,000 rubles, and another $ 300?”. On expensive knives, end Damascus is used. What is it, "blade from end Damascus"?

Two, three or four plates of different patterns, layers and properties of Damascus are taken. They are welded together along the height of the blade and follow the contour of the cutting edge. What does it give?

This gives beauty to the product (due to beautifully selected three or four patterns);

Allows you to put a very hard damascus with a large amount of solid metal, soft Damascus is used on the butt of the blade (the same one from which weapon barrels were made). Thanks to the combination of these Damascus, the strength of the knife increases. The cutting properties of such a blade (albeit not much) increase.

The main effect of end Damascus is beauty and unique author's work. The best specialist in end Damascus in Russia is Mr. Arkhangelsky and his daughter, Maria. Their prices, of course, are much higher. One more question has to be answered: “How many layers does your Damascus contain?”. For ourselves, we determined the optimal ratio of price and quality - 400 layers. Even a specialist cannot visually determine the number of layers. As a rule, blacksmiths know how many layers they have forged. A record is kept for each batch of Damascus…. From buyers at the exhibition you hear: “You have 400 layers of Damascus, and your neighbors have 600 layers!”. It is important to remember: depending on what to layer. You can forge Damascus in 600 layers of nails and it will be worse than Damascus, which has 200 layers of good metal. And more. When forging, above 400 layers, it is required to change manufacturing process(it is necessary to additionally saturate the metal with carbon, because carbon burns out during heating), which significantly increases the cost of the workpiece (and, accordingly, the knife). If a knife in 1000 layers is forged in the same way as in 400 layers, then no matter what metal you take, it will look like metal from cans. But if you take this seriously, observing the technology, then a knife made of 1000-1500-layer Damascus will be better than a 400-layer one, but its cost should also be at least $200.

People often ask: “Which damask is better: with a longitudinal pattern or with a transverse twisted pattern?”. From a consumer point of view, it doesn't matter. Like mosaic Damascus. Only some types of end Damascus may differ in working qualities. Often, mosaic Damascus is inferior in cutting properties to the usual one. Because often, in the pursuit of pattern, little attention is paid to the cutting properties of the metal.

A question often asked at exhibitions: "Does your knife cut nails?". Of course, it is not very clear why people cut nails with a knife ?! Maybe they are connected with this occupation by the nature of their work or have mental disabilities ... But, we will still try to answer this question. Let's say right away that cutting nails is not so a big problem! Knife made of any steel with a hardness of 50 units. HRC on the working part will cut the nail. You just need to change it a little constructively: the thickness of the blade in the cutting part should be at least 1 mm (thicker is better), and the sharpening angle is at least 45 degrees (bigger is better). Order such a knife, and you will be able to chop all the desired nails! Remember that the hardness of a nail is much lower than the hardness of a knife (even from mediocre steel), it's all about the design of the blade. For Damascus steel, when cutting nails, the thickness of the working part can be made less than 1 mm (up to 0.6 mm), the angle can also be smaller. There are knives that cut paper, then cut the nail (by hitting the butt with a hammer) and then the knife can cut paper again (though a little worse). In general, if you want to check the quality of a blade on a nail, it is not necessary to cut it. It is enough to cut the nail or make small notches on it. Any knife made of good Damascus steel will withstand this operation without any problems. We do not take into account knives with a very thin working part of 0.1 m or thinner (for example, fillet knives and the Uzbek knife). And yet, we do not recommend doing such experiments with knives, because. We believe that an adult does not acquire a knife for this.

Of course, if in an emergency you have to use a knife to cut nails, rope or thick wire - that's another matter. You don't have to do this unless you need to. There are other tools for this (for example: chisels, metal cutters) that are much cheaper. good knife. With such constant experiments, especially if the objects being cut turn out to be red-hot, your knife will still break. Our company produces knives for hunters, fishermen, hikers, and lovers of long hikes. The knife can easily open tin cans without sharpening, it is easy to butcher the carcass of a large animal (elk, bear) without sharpening, and when planing wood, it keeps sharpening for several days in a row. They can process several tens of kilograms of fish. It is for these purposes that the Russian Bulat company produces knives. If the knife is used for its intended purpose, the company gives a guarantee for the blade for 10 years! Since our company is already 13 years old, and during this time there were practically no complaints about blades from our Damascus. If a person buys a knife for cutting nails, throwing at a tree and all kinds of experiments, then it is better to contact some other company. True, as practice shows, if a person decides to break a knife, he will break it anyway, no matter where and no matter what steel the knife is made of! But this is already a sign of insanity.

We wish all readers of this article have a nice shopping and happy hunting!

Material prepared CEO LLC "Russian bulat" Maslennikov V.S.