Pros of a Damascus Pocket Knife

• Every blade is unique
• Beautiful designs
• A collectors item
• Handy and helpful
• A necessity to keep in your pocket
• Suitable size, easy to carry
• Above all, its trendy and different look from the standard off-theshelf product makes it more individual.
Personal expression makes the Damascus pocket knives increasingly popular and in demand. Just as us humans are all unique and want to be individuals, the Damascus knives also testify to their unique characters.

How is Damascus Steel Made?

Japanese blacksmithing has been practiced in Damascus forging for many centuries and has been passed on from generation to generation. But Damascus blacksmithing goes much further back. By the 11th century, the crusaders encountered warriors in the Orient, who struck every attacker with their impressive Damascus sabers. The oldest evidence to date for specifically manufactured Damascus steel is provided by Celtic swords made of striped Damascus steel, which are said to date from around 300 BC. The earliest origin of Damascus forging is, therefore, more difficult to determine than is generally assumed. In the meantime, high-quality Damascus steel has also been used in Germany for over 150 years forged. Several Solingen factories use traditional blacksmithing to produce high-performance steel by hand.

Blade Shape and Size of Damascus Pocket Knife

If you want to get high quality and elegant Damascus pocket knife, you need to pay attention to the right shape and size of the blade, in addition to the quality and the beautiful patterns. Smaller blades are easier to control and can also be used very well for finer work. Large and wide blades are well suited for rough work and the cutting of larger clippings. The blade shape, as well as the blade grinding, also have a great impact on the area of application. A small “bulbous” blade with a flat cut is ideal for fine cutting and carving. A larger blade with a spherical cut is excellently suited for chopping and cutting hard material.

A Knife For Generations

These noble and high-quality knives can last a lifetime if used and cared for correctly, and can even be passed on to children and grandchildren. Anyone who decides to invest several hundred or even thousands of euros in one of these masterpieces of blacksmithing will be rewarded with the highest quality and durability over many decades.

Use and handling of a Damascus Pocket Knife

The Damascus steel pocket knife can also be used in the kitchen. Damascus pocket knives have been an integral part of professional chefs’ kitchens for many years. But hobby cooks and housewives with high-quality standards are increasingly using knives made of Damascus steel. The advantages are obvious. The large and very flat blades with the extremely sharp cutting edge made of extremely hard Damascus glide through any food with almost no resistance. This makes cooking more fun!

The Damascus Folding Knife for Hiking and Leisure

Anyone who often spends time in nature, hiking, mountaineering or camping, will very much appreciate a versatile utility knife. If you have a high-quality Damascus pocket knife, you can enjoy the advantages of these special steels. Above all, the long-lasting sharpness and high breaking strength speak for themselves and represent a great advantage over the conventional knives made of chrome steel.

The Damascus Steel Pocket Knife when Hunting

Hunters must also be able to rely on the sharpness and cut resistance of their knives. Damascus hunting knives need a very sharp edge to reliably detach skin and tendons from the game. Damascus hunting knives with flat grinding and a slightly bulbous blade are particularly suitable for this. These knife shapes have excellent cutting properties for soft and medium-hard clippings.

Proper care and storage of Damascus Pocket Knives

Unlike conventional chrome steels, Damascus steel knives require regular maintenance. Due to their very low chrome and high carbon content, Damascus knives are more susceptible to rust and discoloration due to moisture and acids. It is therefore recommended to clean and dry the knife blades after each use. If possible, the knife should be cleaned with a little warm water and washing-up liquid. The basic composition of the detergent neutralizes acids and fatty acids from food, wood, and other clippings. By carefully drying them you will prevent rust formation. If you want to protect and maintain your knife blade, you can apply a synthetic care oil after cleaning in addition. All-purpose lubricants such as Ballistol or WD-40 are also very suitable for this. However, this is only recommended if the knife is not used for cutting and preparing food, (otherwise residues remain in food). In this case, you should limit yourself to cleaning and drying. For long-term storage, care should be taken to keep the ambient humidity low. A closed knife case or a dry knife sheath is suitable for storage while traveling.

Forging a Damascus Folding and Pocket Knife

In a labor-intensive and time-consuming process, several layers of steel with different alloys are placed on top of one another and electronically welded to form a block. It is important for the middle layer to consist of very highly hardenable and carbon-rich steel. This later ensures that the knife has a long-lasting and extremely sharp edge. “Softer” and “tougher” steel alloys are preferably used for the outer layers. As a result, the blade remains resistant and unbreakable even under load. At very high temperatures, the steel is then heated until just before it’s melting point. The different layers are then connected with several targeted hammer blows. This process is called fire welding and is crucial for the later quality of the steel. After the steel has been completely welded, it is forged into a long and flat piece. The steel is then folded and welded back into one piece. This process is repeated until the desired number of layers is reached. In general, the quality tends to increase with the number of layers, since the properties of the different alloys become more closely related. In order to achieve a significant increase in quality compared to conventional mono steel, Damascus steel should have at least 120 layers. After folding the steel, it can now be forged into a blade blank. This requires a lot of experience and precision. When the blade has reached its final shape, excess material is removed and the cutting edge is ground. The next and decisive step for the quality of the later Damascus pocket knife is the hardening of the steel. The blade is heated to over 830 degrees Celsius and then suddenly cooled in oil or water. This sudden drop in temperature in the steel causes it to contract strongly at the molecular level. This creates an enormous density and hardness in the steel. However, since the Damascus blade would now be much too hard and brittle for use, it is heated several times in an oven after hardening. This process is called tempering. This removes the high stresses from the hardening process from the steel. What remains is a high level of hardness with simultaneous breaking strength. Now the blade is ready for the finishing touches and attaching the phase to the cutting edge. Depending on the intended use, the phase and the blade geometry have different angles. The smaller the angle, the sharper and easier it will be to cut the Damascus folding knife later in use. The larger the angle, the more robust, stable and resilient the blade will be. It is therefore important to find an optimal compromise for these properties for the intended area of application. Probably the most beautiful and exciting work step in the manufacturing of Damascus pocket knives is the treatment of the steel in the acid bath. The blade is placed in acid for a few minutes. The acid now only attacks the various steel alloys to a varying degree. This chemical process makes the unique and popular grain of the Damascus steel visible.

Pattern in the steel of Damascus Pocket and Folding knife

When making Damascus steel, the blacksmith can use a variety of techniques and tools to achieve different types and patterns of Damascus. This is how more and more variants of this popular steel are created. There are numerous types of Damascus steel knives, from tiger Damascus, mosaic Damascus, torsion Damascus, cross Damascus, wild Damascus to rose Damascus and explosion Damascus. They all differ significantly in terms of production costs and prices. These unique patterns fascinate tens of thousands of collectors and knife lovers worldwide.

Damascus Pocket Knife Buying Guide

Whether you choose to purchase a Damascus steel folding and pocket knife, a handmade pocket knife or a completely different model depends primarily on the purpose for which you intend to buy the knife. Above all, you should ask yourself what functions should your choice of the knife have. Do you just need the blade or should it end up being a multitool with different tools? Do you use the knife more privately or is it used professionally in the trade? These two questions are essential when choosing the right model. You should also be able to answer the following questions:
• In which climate is the knife primarily used? If you wish to take the folding and pocket knife with you for fishing, will it be used in a damp, warm environment? If so wooden handles, for example, are strongly discouraged.
• Should it be a one-handed knife or a two-handed knife?
• How easy should it be to open? Do you expect situations in which you need to be able to access the required functions in a matter of seconds?
• How big should the knife be?
The relationship between the knife and your hands plays a crucial role here. Big hands can take big knives, while small hands can handle smaller multitools better. If you have a few models to choose from, consider the following more closely. Examine the handle carefully. This should be ergonomically shaped, and it should also be of a non-slip material. The next important feature is the blade of the knife. Not only should it be sharp, but it should also hold its edge. This means that it will dull slowly even with intensive use. Finally, you should test the knife for its durability. Check how sensitive the material is to rust and moisture and make sure that the joint of the multitool does not break at the slightest load. This will help you enjoy the newly acquired everyday helper for a long time.

Advantages of a Pocket knife made of Damascus Steel

With a pocket knife made of Damascus steel, the owner has a practical everyday helper that looks aesthetic. The classic Damascus pattern makes the knife unique. Every blade varies from the other. Pocket knives made of Damascus steel are not only versatile and functional but also suitable as collectibles. With correct use and proper care, high-quality knives can last a lifetime. So, every owner of a Damascus knife has a high-quality heirloom for children and grandchildren. Damascus knives can also be used during activities such as:
• Rock climbing
• Hiking
• Camping
In addition to the high quality of a pocket knife made of Damascus steel, it is advisable to place value on the ideal size and shape of the blade. Smaller blades are ideal for finer work. They are also much easier to control. In contrast, wide, larger blades are better suited for cutting larger clippings and rough work. Blade grinding, as well as the shape of the blades of a Damascus pocket knife, can have a major impact on the respective area of application. So, a small, bulbous blade is used for fine cuts and for carving. A larger blade with a spherical cut, on the other hand, can be used to chop or cut hard clippings.

Care of Damascus Pocket Knives

Damascus steel pocket knives require regular care. Since these have a high proportion of carbon and a minimal proportion of chrome, Damascus folding and pocket knives are more susceptible to discoloration and rust due to the action of acids and moisture. For this reason, the knife blades must always be cleaned and dried well after each use. It is best to rinse the Damascus knives with warm water and a little washing-up liquid. This makes it easier to remove residues. Due to the basic composition of detergent, fatty acids and other acids from wood, food and other clippings are neutralized. Rust formation can be effectively prevented by carefully drying it. For additional protection of the Damascus pocket knife blade, it is worth applying a synthetic maintenance oil after cleaning. When storing Damascus pocket knives for a longer period of time, it is advisable to place emphasis on low ambient humidity. A closed knife case is suitable for when you are on the move. It is advisable that the fingers are not touched by the blade as every fingerprint automatically leaves an invisible film of fatty acids and sweat. This attacks Damascus steel on the surface. Proper care for your everyday helpers is just as important as cleaning. The joint of a pocket knife, in particular, can tolerate a few drops of oil at regular intervals. You will notice that your multi-tool could be lubricated a little if the blade or the individual tools can be pulled out with unusually high resistance. If folding gets difficult, you know its time for a little care. The oil you use for this should be food-safe and tasteless. Ballston weapon oil or Multi-Tool Oil from Victorinox is often recommended. However, the weapon oil mentioned has a certain smell of its own. This is why knife lovers prefer using cooking oils. Linseed oil or olive oil are the most suitable ones to use. It’s advisable, that you refrain from using Petroleum jelly or Teflon greases. These oils or fats have the property of reacting to extreme temperatures. Due to the increased heating of the knife, which often occurs in your pocket in summer, the fabrics mentioned flocculate. This significantly affects the functionality of the multitool. Last but not least, the pocket knife has to be sharpened regularly. You will need a Whetstone for this. Water stones and Diamond stones are very popular and achieve the best results.

Clean, Maintain and Sharpen Pocket Knives

As with any other knife, you will enjoy your pocket knife the longest if you treat it with care. It is essential to know the best way to care for the valuable tools in your pocket. Treat your multitool or Damascus pocket knife to a nice bath after each use. This is how you wash off residues of the processed materials and prevent the knife from being damaged. It is best to use a bowl of warm water for this. Swing the knife in it a few times when opened. Then unfold and retract all tools several times. Then make sure that the pocket knife dries properly. If necessary, you should rub it completely with a soft cloth. This is particularly advisable with Damascus pocket knives so that they do not rust.
Proceed as follows when sharpening the knife:
1. Smear the Whetstone thinly with oil. This maintains the blade and prevents metal chips from settling in the Whetstone.
2. Place the Grindstone at an angle of 15 to 20 degrees.
3. Pull the Whetstone towards the blade up to the tip of the knife.
4. Repeat this process about three to five times per side.
If you follow the above tips, you will enjoy your pocket knife for the longest time.