1095 and 15N20 is the pairing behind every piece of Damascus in this catalogue. Two steels, forge welded into a billet, folded, drawn out and etched. There is no mystery to it and no lost ancient secret involved, which is worth saying because a great deal of marketing suggests otherwise.
Why these two steels
1095 is plain high carbon steel, roughly nine tenths of a percent carbon and nothing else. It hardens deeply and takes an excellent edge. 15N20 is a nickel bearing steel used for bandsaw blades, with similar carbon content and about two percent nickel. The nickel does two things. It makes the steel slightly tougher, and it resists the acid etch at the end of the process, so it stays bright while the 1095 darkens. The visible contrast between light and dark bands is that difference, not a coating and not a print.
What is on this tag
Double headed axes with twin Damascus bits and engraved Mjolnir cheeks, flanged maces at 27 inches overall with 6 inch heads on rosewood hafts, bearded hatchets on rune lined walnut hafts, gladius short swords at 27 inches with cut Greek key borders, and knives. Everything here is Damascus of 1095 and 15N20, forge welded and acid etched, hardened to 58 to 60 HRC. Hafts are walnut, ash and rosewood, wedged rather than glued.
Layer count and what it does not tell you
Doubling on every fold means counts climb fast and mean very little. More layers gives a finer, tighter figure. Fewer gives bold bands. Neither cuts better, because performance comes from the steel, the heat treat and the geometry, all of which are the same whatever the count. The process is set out properly in the pattern welding explainer and the terminology in the steel glossary. The twin bitted axes are in the double headed axes and the blades in the Damascus knives.
Etch, and how long it lasts
The acid etch is a surface finish rather than a coating. Handling wears it at contact points over years and abrasive cleaners strip it outright. It can be re etched by anyone with ferric chloride and patience, which is one of the quiet advantages of pattern welded steel over a printed pattern that cannot be restored at all.
Free US shipping
On most pieces. Heavier and oversized ones carry a flat charge.
Hand Forged
Heated, hammered and ground by hand.
Engraving available
Names, dates or Norse runes on most pieces.
