What's the purpose for twisting damascus?

[Jeremy Toeper]

I'm familiar with the production of damascus barrels. The stacking of low carbon steel with iron, twisting, forging, etc. What I always wondered was it necessary to use two different materials. Could they have just used low carbon steel and twist forge welded that into a barrel? Is there a structural, chemical, or mechanical reason to use iron and steel? The amazing beauty aside was there a reason, or was it just aesthetics?

[Dean Romig]

Go to Dr. Drew Hause’s website DamascusKnowledge.com for anything you need to know about Damascus steel, it’s history, it’s manufacture and it’s uses.





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[Drew Hause]

Interesting question and I'm afraid there is unlikely to be an answer here, which reviews the development and methodology of twist & crolle tubes
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oPd3fOeToSHZwCaahXNIyV3sGVqow_Z_ENO8Fnk7kTQ/edit?tab=t.0

I believe the intent of combining iron and low carbon steel was for the elasticity of wrought iron with the strength of steel.
I've never seen a description of twist or crolle tubes using only steel.

I suspect after decarbonized/Bessemer steel was in general use in the 1870s, then Siemens-Martin (Open Hearth) steel in the 1880s it was much simpler/cheaper to bore out rolled rods.

[Aaron Beck]

Steel was more expensive than iron and so the two were amalgamated to get the physical properties from the more economical material.

[Dean Romig]

I think, not only for the reasons Drew explains, it was also for the resultant beauty of it.






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[Drew Hause]

I agree Dean...and maybe to reproduce Wootz
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1me32b1AZQqr361CVtb-jeAoK1hDO2ZT6QR1fXQkjY0c/edit?tab=t.0

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13X5cxrij91Q_W-46bxP188B_axDKBWT5Mc5yHePegh0/edit?tab=t.0

[Dean Romig]

Great information Drew!





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