Forge welding is the step that makes Damascus. Two steels are stacked, brought to a heat where the surfaces are ready to join, fluxed so nothing oxidises in the seam, and struck until they become one bar. Then the bar is folded and drawn out and the process repeats. Every fold doubles the layer count, and every weld is a chance to trap a flaw, which is why a clean billet is worth paying for.
What the billet becomes here
The long blades cover an arming sword at 37 inches overall with a 30 inch blade, a falchion at 30 inches with a 24 inch blade, a rune engraved falchion at 29 inches with a 23 inch blade, a messer at 32 inches with a 25 inch blade, and a Chinese jian at 35 inches with a 27 inch blade, which is the only straight double edged blade of the group. The Japanese piece is a wakizashi at 29 inches overall with a 20.5 inch blade, a grey saya, a navy cord wrap and brass fittings. The Norse end brings two Viking seax at 24 and 24.5 inches overall with 18 inch blades, a double bit felling axe on a walnut haft with a brass collar and a leather edge cover, and a spearhead with winged lugs and a runed brass socket. Every piece runs 58 to 60 HRC, which is where this pairing sits once it is hardened and tempered. Prices run from 269 dollars to 595 dollars.
Judging a billet and choosing between steels
A bad weld shows up as a grey line or a lifted layer, and a printed pattern shows up as a design that stops at the bevel. Our page on real against fake Damascus covers what to look for. Whether you want the folded billet at all depends on the job, and the comparison against plain high carbon steel is honest about where each wins. To browse by shape, the cutting tools are in Damascus knives and the long blades are in Damascus swords.
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.
