Damascus Swords? Real VS Fake, The Guide for All Swords Buyer! 

I will let you in on a little secret as a blacksmith. The last cold steel sword you showed us, notice how the pattern of the Damascus was round in along the spine? The round patterns come from forging ball bearings into blades. In fact the Damascus patterns can have different shapes depending on what you start with. Steel cable gives you an almost spiral look, plates give you more flatish lines, and of course ball bearings give you the roundish look. A little more information on how to tell how good the Damascus is. Cable is alright and consistent. Plates can vary a lot, depending on the steel in the plates. But ball bearings are the best. No such thing as a soft bearing.

13:42 - Not always. You can take a legit damascus steel blade and acid treat it so that the pattern comes through brighter with more contrast - a lot of customers prefer that appearance..

Extremely informative ! Keep up the good work ! Also, I feel bad for the person that would try to break into your house and rob you.

4:40 I dont know why but i laughed so hard at this XD

Why the hell do I hear bombs dropping or waves crashing around 7:50 ? LOL that is distracting.

As a bladesmith this makes my head hurt. the production for True Damascus steel (wootz) has been lost for centuries. Pattern welded steel what a lot of people refer to Damascus steel is a mixture of two or more steel types folded together with one type having a higher nickel content to it stays shiny while the high carbon steel gets more grey. The most common types of steels used are 1080 and 15n20 or a similar variation. they are forge welded together and folded several times. then etched in ferric chloride to bring out the pattern. On another not Pattern welded steel makes horrible swords you want spring steel such as 5160 or similar for a sword.

my girlfriend bought me a Shinwa Full Tang Damascus Steel Warrior Katana Sword, and I'm sure it's fake cause the pattern is so obvious. But... I love her for buying me it cause I've always wanted one to put on my wall for decoration. :)

Your accent is interesting... New Jersey?

No reason to buy a folded steel sword apart from cosmetic looks or traditional concerns.

Thank you for sharing on how to tell the difference between real and not real Damascus swords. Very informative. Respectively yours, Curtis L. Heltsley.

i lost it at 10:24

I have to say there is a difference between damascus steel and regular folded steel. Folded steel merely refers to a refinement process where the blacksmith draws out his billet and then folds it back on it's self as a method of removing impurities in the metal. Damascus steel on the other hand refers to the process of layering different types of steel (usually one higher quality hard steel and then a more mild medium or soft steel) as a method to allow the sword to be durable yet pliable (the reason blades are tempered.) You want a nice hard steel along the blade so that it'll hold an edge but the thing about hard steel is it has a tendency to snap under pressure. A softer steel will flex flex back and forth on impact and is less likely to snap but is not as good at holding an edge. Solution, use both hard and soft steel. This is why swords are quenched (to harden the blade) and then tempered (to soften the rest of the medal again.) Damascus steel just adds to the effect. I could get into fluxing with borax and other blacksmith methods but I fear I have prattled on a bit too much already. If you're still curious about more... This is youtube, look it up! Lol there's a million videos of amateur blacksmiths out there, enjoy. :)

Really like your natural personality on camera. Very Chill and funny

1st of all nice video again. Thank you for uploading :D. So in thin case we just search for the different layers of high carbon-low carbon steel. And take the missnamed "damascus" kind of steel for granted. Kinda hoped, before watching, that you would set things clear about wootz steel, but knowlegde about this method is sadly lost in time. Thanks again man for your video...

As a relatively new sword enthusiast, this guide is very useful and informative. Unfortunately most sword buying is exclusively online and we can't really see the swords up close before buying them...

Real True Damascus steel is a crucible steel and not folded. True Damascus gets its patterns from large metal crystals forming on the outside of the blade

Amen brother. You helped me make a smarter puchase of a good genuine katata and saved me from wasting a couple hundred dollars :D

This is the most entertaining thing I have seen all day. Great information too!

the only difference between real or fake damascus is whether it's actually patterned/folded steel, or if it's a design etched into plain steel. Any steel that has been folded or is made from multiple layers is considered damascus.

Nice video. I appreciate the time you took to make this :)

Thanks a lot man I really appreciate the good info, it really pisses me of all these companies claiming Damascus steel that is really just acid etched mono steel, they should be ashamed of themselves.

Unless you have an antique out of the 18th centaury, you most probably don't have Damascus steel. Nothing wrong Pattern forged, but it is not real Damascus.

Just an FYI...i proved this concept today. After sanding off all the etching, I rubbed my damascus kitchen knife with some vinegar, and low and behold, the pattern all came back. It may not be real wootz or whatever, but it surely is pattern welded, which is what I wanted anyways.

Damascus steel is when you mix two or more steels together and then you fold it to make the patterns. What you showed was just folded steel swords made with one single type of steel.

The only "Damascus" steel blades I come across are ones where the pattern is so vibrant and clear, it's almost a two-tone blade. Like, you don't even need the flashlight trick to see it, it's visible from several feet away. Didn't see those shown, so I don't know how those compare.

Where did you get the Han Dynasty style Chinese sword?

Hello!!! I need your advice. I full in love with one handed Jian sword, and I have the problem that can´t find serius souces for learning. ¿What do you recomend me?. Thanks!

Very Informative Thanks

Say it with me.. DAH - MASS - CUSS ;-) Loved your vid...

I can't speak on eastern sword replicas, but there are plenty of knife makers online that sell "genuine" damascus or pattern-welded steel knives and swords. Though the ones that I have come across were all short (19-28 inches) they were retailed at very reasonable prices (around the £100 mark, which is around $150 I belive). These prices are EXTREMELY low compared to the company-made, multi-produced swords available online. Things that usually run $300-$1300 can be bought, in the form of a handmade, usually-one-of-a-kind shortsword that uses ferric-chloride etched blades (they are used to make the pattern more pronounced, not to fake it on), along with high quality woods, bones, antlers and leathers. In fact, most damascus swords available on etsy retail for around £70-£130 and all seem to have leather sheaths. Could someone explain why this happens?

Hello I was thinking about getting a red folded damascus steel katana for $139 from Chansword do you think it is real and this is a reliable company?

I have a sword I picked up at an auction, I noticed when I run my fingernail across the blade you can feel the pattern. Do you think that could be etched or real? Thought I'd ask if you have come across a sword like that. It would take a lot of effort to do the sanding test on it.

Pattern forge welded steel was called Damascus as early as the early 19th century for damascus gun barrels. Forge welded steel is stronger and more consistent than woods and better all around. Calling pattern welded steel Damascus is perfectly accepted and acceptable.

10:24 lol

But that Thunder God blade is a sanmei folded steel blade no? Not Damascus which is many different steels folded together right?

what if you sand it off, and dip it in acid? Shouldn't the pattern be visible again? After all these are steel, you can use any abrasive to achieve a mirror finish.

I don't understand. If the patter remains after I use sandpaper on it then it damascus steel or plain folded steel?

Very informative. Thanks for the video.

Can you tell me where can I buy a jian, I live in South east Asia... And im trying to get one but have not found one(I collect historical weapons)

Hey I was wondering what are those swords online with Damascus pattern and red or orange copper tone added? Is there really such a thing as a high quality sword with copper tone added to give a folded pattern with more of an aesthetic look? Thanks.

Hey, I am wondering just how legit colored damascus is? I have seen red damascus swords online, they look amazing but I don't know if they are real. Thank you.

your English has gotten alot better since the last time I seen one of your videos! :D I know it must've been hard, been in the English learning route before myself

actually ... I would prefer to have it properly hardened with the clay pattern edge showing as well as the pattern folded blade. On the ones that you have shown they were folded to create the pattern. But the finishing steps were left out.... that being the creation of two distinct types of heat treating on all good Japan swords you left out the pattern formed between the softer body of the sword, and the hardened edge. (the part not covered by clay during the heat treat)

thx for the video, I learned some thang... good day, stay sharp.....

Also, why is it "good" when you can't even see it without a flashlight?(no hate) also nice vid as usual!

Sweet collection , thank you for the information. I love the true Damascus. Glad you mentioned folding the steel.

HELLO , MY NAME IS DEAN , IM FROM THE UK AND ID LIKE TO BUY A GOOD QUALITY SAMURAI SWORD SET , COULD YOU POSSABLY POINT ME TO THE RIGHT PLACE PLEASE? THANKYOU

Where did you get that tanto? If I am spelling it right :/

where can I buy that katana from the beginning?

I hope you can help me because I know nothing about good or bad katana brands. Soon I'm gonna buy my first real sharp katana instead of a movie display katana and I want good quality for what I have to spend. I can spend a max of 450 euro for a katana (that's around 550 US dollars). Are Huanuo forge katana's any good? Especially the Huanuo forge Bonsai katana. It's 1095 high carbon hand forged and differentially hardened clay tempered steel so it's very good metal but what about the rest of the materials? It has a blackened iron tsuba. Blackened iron kashira and fuchi. Real black rayskin on the tsuka with japanese silk. It's a full tang with 2 bamboo mekugi's. Btw it's a No-Hi blade which they claim makes a cleaner cut with the right technique. Should I buy this one? Because I love bonsai and katana's so this katana would be perfect for me if it is a good katana for that price (435 euro's which is 535 US dollars) www.katana-samurai-sword.com/uk/bonsai-katana-p-648.html

Hey Chiinnature, what online stores do you recommend buying some katanas

hello sir.. I like to know during a real swords fighting how can sword edge stay working and sharp.. if the katana is strong Clatch with other katana then after some strike the edge of both will broken.. is that right or? thank you for explain this point to me

I watched the video several times and was wondering why doesn't the temper line take on the same patterning as the rest of the folded steel blade ? Shouldn't the hardened edge assume the folded lines in spite of the tempering change ?

Can you get a real Damascus or folded steel sword with a prominent pattern or is it always subtle and only visible with light ???

Greetings! May I ask if you have any experience on "black&red damascus steel" swords? Are they really pattern welded folded steel baldes, or fake? How do they reach the alternating colours of black & red? Please share if you know something, because I don't know anything about these. Thank you! :)

So is the first sword actually real Damascus steel or the modern version of it? I heard the real Damascus process was lost and so the swords would probably cost more then $100-115

"You see??. Very sexy looking.... ". I love this fucking guy

On the 100-150 dollar katana, would you say they are functional for the price? Meaning they won't fail?

Next episode will be about Damakus steel vs Damascus steel 😂😁😁

haha i fucking love this guy! "oh be careful the blade is sharp." kinda hard to understand at first but if you keep watching and get used to his accent then no problem. thank uou for this vid bud. very informative and amusing, even if unintentional, i like ya.

Have you purchased anything from Ryan Swords? I recently put in a custom order for a 9260 Spring Steel through hardened katana and was wondering if you had any knoledge and or experience on the company? They seem to be very accomodating to my needs and specifications though! Great ordering experience!

What do you think about when these people selling swards use the words, "Battle Ready"? Can you presume they are actually battle ready or is that just another marketing scam?

where do you get all these badass weapons? I've been trying to find high quality Chinese and Japanese style weapons, especially a naginata. is there a website you get these from? if so what is it?? I'd love to be able to check it out?

thanks for sharing, I found your info useful for choosing a first katana

Heyy brother, please provide me your trustworthy link where i can buy real samurai sword in range of 100 USD. And i live in india so is it will be shipped to india?

I've been collecting knives since I was a kid and have recently developed an interest in swords. Your videos are helpful, informative and fun to watch! Thanks for taking the time to put these videos up! Nice sword collection by the way. Was that Godzilla breathing heavily as he passed by at about 8:20 in?

Excellent video! Well informative and easy to understand for the most part. What I mean by this is towards the end of the video it seemed a little confusing as to how to tell a great quality blade from a not so well made one, but the overall message was clear. Once again great video! Hope you keep on making informative videos

what type of guard is on that blade at 9:22 seconds?

What if it has some kind of decoration or some kind of theme on the blade?

Where di I buy a hang dynasty sword that is good quality but not a lot of money?

where did you get that sword from

This is the guy u need no want as a friend when u go looking for a sword. 😗😗😗😗😗😗

Do a sword collection video

Thanks for this video it's very helpful.

My swords layer patters looks very real. I have even sanded it with some 2500 grid sandpaper to make it shine a little more. But at the button of the blade (near the tsuba) it a little more difficult to see. Not that the lines fade away, but many of the layer lines stops before the tsuba. Could this be a very good fake? It's a 200 dollar koto katana btw.

i had just recived a damacus sword 4 my b-day. im glad 2 know its real!

Good video with good information. Thank you.

I love damascus steel katanas ! I want to get one soon . mine is a 1095 clay tempered carbon steel and its battle ready . so im happy with the one I got but I gotta have a damascus katana

This guy's great....subbed.

Very nicely done video and explanation of true damascus. My compliments! I'm watching your video's lately and see you have so much good swords that i'm jealous haha. Here in the Netherlands all the good swords like the cold steel jade lion gim are ridiculous high priced here for a common man with a "normal" salary....too bad. But you are doing a great job. Keep up the good work!

10:24

Is Damaka steel better or the same as T10 carbon?

good video, than you from Canada!!

this is thw best video i have seen concerning this subject. what do they use to make the pattern-ink? i have a lot of so called Damascus steel knives and before this it was difficult to tell the difference between real and pattern. thanks! tim

@Chiinnature you may have polished your Damascus away bathe the blade in nitric acid and it will restore the pattern

, sorry to burst your bubble but you are incorrect the Damascus steel sword is polished correctly you will not see any patterns... Technically a real katana... From Japan is technically a layered Damascus steel and yes with their high polished and you do not see any wave pattern at all except for the hamon..... you really need to read up on your metallurgy

Thank you very much

Quick question, is the tsuka (handle) of the katana covered with Ray skin?

i believe i have a damascus steel. it's very flexible, but strong and sharp. however, the man who sold me mine said it isn't like most other swords. The pattern is extremely strange. Can you take a look at my videos and provide insight, please? It was apparently hand crafted, name under hilt, but I have no idea how it reflects in the way that it does. Thanks, in advance!

Arigatou gozaimasu, Senpai san!

Great video, I have 3 Damascus style knives, 2 daggers and one pocket knife. The pocket knife is definitely legit, sanded it a ton and the pattern is here to stay. The smaller dagger is for sure fake, but the larger one I’m unsure about.

Thank you mate! I'll just go and take a close look at my blades. Oh! Do you think that for marketing purposes, some genuine damascus producers might use the acid dipping step just to make the pattern and difference in steel grades more apparent, or of it shows really obviously, it has to be some lower level of work? Thanks and good job.

What do you think of sword of northshire? cause I'm thinking of buying from them

Where do you purchase your swords ?

the way he said, "looks like shit" is awesome lmao

Is the practical xl katana folded steel ?

Thanks helped me quite a bit, you rule nice swords.

If the steel is folded 15 times and polished like the traditional way you will see unequal curves looks like hand draw

Very informative. Thank You.

Sword steel was folded originally because the quality of the steel was poor. By repeatedly folding the steel, you homogenised - or evened out the amount of carbon through the steel. With modern foundry steel, the folding is redundant - it's no longer necessary for a functional sword and is only really of value to those who appreciate swords made in the traditional manner, or for their cosmetic appeal. It should also be noted that using high carbon and low carbon layers (different steel welded together is usually termed Damascus), while it does produce high contrast between the layers, actually produces a functionally *inferior* sword. Swords where the same steel is simply folded over and over, are generally functionally superior to Damascus, though not as pretty because of the lower contrast between the layers. You should also note, that the pattern itself reveals how the sword was made. Where there are lots of swirls and circles, it usually indicates that the beve4ls of the blade were ground into the steel, rather than forged. The prettiest patterns are made by grinding or cutting through the layers, however this does not make for the best sword. A sword with the bevels forged into shape will be better, because the grain structure in the steel will follow the shape of the blade, but makes for a less pretty pattern. This means that folded steel swords with high contrast and lots of swirls and circles might look very pretty, but they are not necessarily superior in function. Understanding how the sword was made, is key to appreciating a good sword from a not so good one.