The terms Damascus steel, damascened or pattern welded refer to a steel that is composed and forged from two or more different types of steel. It is named after its birthplace, the Syrian city of Damascus, a former stronghold of stamped steel production. As a common practice, a harder high carbon steel and a softer low carbon steel are repeatedly welded and folded together.
High carbon steel ensures greater hardness, better hardenability and longer edge retention, while softer steel gives the blade greater flexibility and tensile strength.
This procedure, which arose at a time when steel grades were often low and inconsistent, allows the positive attributes of different steel grades to be combined. Furthermore, the different hues generated by the varying carbon content of the alternating layers create strikingly beautiful patterns. Undoubtedly.