Damascus steel

Damascus steel
hand-wrought steel, made in various Asian countries, from parts of a bloom of heterogeneous composition, repeatedly folded over and welded and finally etched to reveal the resulting grain: used esp. for sword blades. Also called damask, damask steel.
[1720-30]

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also called  damasked steel 

      one of the famous steels of the pre-industrial era, typically made into weapon blades. Manufacture involved a secret carburization process in which a form of wrought iron was heated to red heat in contact with various carbonaceous materials in closed vessels. The result was an iron-carbon alloy containing as much as 1.8 percent carbon. It is probable that the carburized product was then annealed to dissipate some of the carbon before being hammered into bars for later fashioning into articles such as swords.

      Damascus steel is characterized by exceptional hardness and by a watered, streaked appearance caused by the varying carbon levels of the original material. Sometimes a single bar is welded up from various kinds of steel. The bar is doubled over, welded, redoubled, and rewelded until the various layers of steel become intertwined, and it is then worked out to form the blade. The patterns that result after quenching and finishing are distinctive and complex. Damascus blades are judged largely by their watering, which serves as a guide to the quality of the steel.

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  • Damascus steel — Damascus Da*mas cus, n. [L.] A city of Syria. [1913 Webster] {Damascus blade}, a sword or scimiter, made chiefly at Damascus, having a variegated appearance of watering, and proverbial for excellence. {Damascus iron}, or {Damascus twist}, metal… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Damascus steel — n. 1. a hard, flexible steel decorated with wavy lines, orig. made in Damascus and used for sword blades 2. any steel like this …   English World dictionary

  • Damascus steel — Da*mas cus steel See {Damask steel}, under {Damask}. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Damascus steel — For Damascus Twist barrels, see Skelp. For the album of the same name, see Damascus Steel (album). Close up of a 16th century Iranian crucible forged Damascus steel sword Damascus steel was a term used by several Western cultures from the… …   Wikipedia

  • Damascus Steel — Infobox Album | Name = Damascus Steel Type = studio Artist = The Meads of Asphodel Released = October 31, 2005 Recorded = Genre = Experimental black metal Length = 61:25 Label = Supernal Music Producer = Reviews = Last album = The Mill Hill… …   Wikipedia

  • Damascus steel — Damask Dam ask, a. 1. Pertaining to, or originating at, the city of Damascus; resembling the products or manufactures of Damascus. [1913 Webster] 2. Having the color of the damask rose. [1913 Webster] But let concealment, like a worm i the bud,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Damascus steel — Damasko plienas statusas T sritis chemija apibrėžtis Iš suvirintų įvairaus anglingumo plieno gabalų ar supintų vielelių kaltas nepaprastai kietas ir lankstus senovinių ginklų plienas. atitikmenys: angl. damascene steel; Damascus steel; damask rus …   Chemijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • Damascus Steel (album) — Damascus Steel Studio album by The Meads of Asphodel Released October 31, 2005 Genre …   Wikipedia

  • Damascus steel — /dəmæskəs ˈstil/ (say duhmaskuhs steel) noun a kind of steel with a wavy or variegated pattern, originally made in the Middle East, chiefly at Damascus, and used for making sword blades …  

  • Damascus Steel — strong and supple steel decorated with a wavy pattern (originally used in Damascus for the production of sword blades) …   English contemporary dictionary

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