Damascus Blades

Damascus Blade shaping & sharpening from billet to ready to use blade. This image is a before and after shot.

Step 1: Getting a Blank

Starting with a 416 layer damascus billet we use a water jet to cut out blade blanks

Step 2: Thickness Grind

The first step is to grind the blanks flat on each side to get the proper thickness. We created blocks to hold and position the blades as we grind them.

Step 3: Smoothing the Backs

then we smooth the backs by hand

Step 4: Primary Grind

Placing them back on the block we do a primary grind with the belt angled. This step creates the angel or beveled part of the blade

Step 5: Heat Treatment

The blades are then placed in an oven at 1700 degrees to begin the heat treatment process

Step 6: Quenching

When heated to the proper temparture the blades are then quenched. We dunk them in an oil solution for immediate cooling to form the hardness of the steel.

Step 7: Tumbler

once the heat treatment is completed we place them in a tumbler to remove the scale

Step 8: Etching

Through a dipping process with a ferric chloride solution the etching reveals the unique pattern of each damascus blade. The blades are now ready for sharpening!

Step 9: Sharpening

The final step is the sharpening. We use a Japanese water wheel for the plain edge blades and a serration wheel for the serrated blades. The backs are also ground for the locking mechanism.

Step 10: The Blades Ready to Be Installed

The final step is a quality control check making sure there are no flaws and the shape and sharpening are correct. If necessary they can be checked for proper hardness. They are ready to be installed in a knife handle or multi tool and should last for many years and easily resharpened!

Step 11: Finished Products