1095 and 15N20 is the alloy pair behind every patterned blade in this catalogue. The two steels are stacked, forge welded into one billet, folded and drawn out, then the finished blade is etched in acid. 1095 darkens, 15N20 stays bright because of its nickel, and the boundary between the layers becomes the pattern. Search this phrase and you are looking for the alloys named on the listing rather than the word Damascus used as decoration.
What the billet becomes
The spread on this page shows how far one recipe travels. The Roman shapes run to two gladii at 27 and 28 inches overall with 20 and 21 inch blades, plus a leaf bladed gladius at 26 inches with a bronze meander guard and an oxblood grip. The knightly end covers arming swords at 36, 37 and 38 inches, two of which ship with their scabbard and one with a belt as well, a medieval sword at 37 inches, a bastard sword at 43 inches and a longsword at 46 inches with a 35 inch blade. The Japanese shapes are a katana at 40 inches with a black ito wrapped tsuka and a lacquered saya, and a straight bladed ninjato with a cord wrapped handle. Then the smaller pieces: a Norse short sword at 28 inches, a sword with an infinity loop guard and a Mjolnir pommel, a bowie with bone scales and a valknut etched blade at 15 inches overall, an 8 inch karambit with a spiral engraved bolster, a socketed spearhead with a brass collar, a bearded axe on a walnut haft, and a Viking axe on a 32 inch ash haft with a Mjolnir stamped poll. Blades run 58 to 60 HRC. Prices run from 239 dollars to 695 dollars.
What to know before buying
The pattern is structural, so it goes through the blade and survives a regrind. Our explanation of Damascus steel covers how the layers form and what the counts actually mean, and the steel glossary defines the terms sellers use loosely. To browse by shape, the Roman blades are in gladius and the cutting tools are in Damascus knives.
Ransack Viking is a US company based in North Babylon, New York. These pieces are handmade in the Czech Republic, then imported, inspected and shipped from New York. Engraving is done in the US after arrival: text 19 dollars, symbol 39 dollars, family crest 49 dollars.
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.
