Boker Knifestyle | EN Edition 2018 / 2019

14 BOKER DAMASCUS
HANDFORGED STAINLESS
DAMASCUS:
There are some basic differences between
this forging technique and that of classic,
non-stainless Damascus. Since stainless
steel cannot be forged together under normal
circumstances, some clever Damascus
blacksmiths came up with a technique that
circumvents this obstacle. The essential
factor is oxygen. While classic, non-stainless
Damascus is forged and folded in a regular
open forge, the ambient air is the deciding
factor for stainless Damascus – it prevents
stainless steel layers from being forged
together. Therefore, stainless Damascus
is made by preparing layer packages and
forging them in a vacuum.
All Damascus smiths have their own
tricks that fall under the heading of trade
secrets, and cannot be explained in detail
here. In the knifemaking community, Chad
Nichols, from Mississippi, is one of the
most renowned Damascus smiths who
makes stainless Damascus - his top-grade
material is not just utilized by various knife
manufacturers, but also by many custom
knifemakers around the globe as premium
Damascus for particularly fine models.
Nichols Damascus has a fine, rich patterning
that makes it very popular, but many users
also value the material’s great practical
functionality, which makes his Damascus
their first choice. Apart from many knives
in our “Outdoor & Collection” catalog, Chad
Nichols Damascus, which typically has more
than 200 layers, is also used in our kitchen
knife series Boker Pure Damascus.
HANDFORGED TORSION
DAMASCUS:
One of the most sophisticated methods
for forging Damascus steel is torsion
Damascus. Here, a twist is added to the
classic folding of the material. This creates
a unique pattern and the control needed
to master this forging process requires
the highest level of expertise. Torsion
Damascus was found in the few preserved
Vikings swords, made at a time when the
most sophisticated pieces were forged
with outstanding skill and craftsmanship, far
superior to the standard swords of the day,
even in technical terms.
The highly complex forging process that
creates the characteristic pattern makes
torsion Damascus one of the rarest and
most exclusive types of Damascus steel.
Boker uses such hand forged torsion
Damascus,made by the German Damascus
smith Andreas Henrichs, for the kitchen
knife series Boker Superior - a standout
in the world of kitchen knives due to their
individually handforged blades.