Boker Knifestyle | EN Edition 2018 / 2019

16 BOKER DAMASCUS
SAN-MAI-DAMASCUS/
CORE DAMASCUS:
One modern and very common variation is
San Mai Damascus, or core Damascus. In
its composition and production methods,
it is very different from the other types of
Damascus. San Mai really denotes a multilayered
blade that is not folded (unlike
Damascus), but typically consists of three
layers - a hard core as the center layer and
two softer outer layers that add stability and
flexibility. In the case of core Damascus,
the center layer of modern kitchen knives
is often made from a continuous piece of
Japanese VG-10, a high performance cobalt
alloy steel with a fine structure and high level
of corrosion resistance.
In contrast to a classic San Mai blade, the
outer layers are significantly softer than the
core but they consist of Damascus steel.
However, this Damascus is usually not hand
forged, but mass produced, by means of
the rolling method. These blades can be
recognized by their center layer of mono
steel that usually peeks out from underneath
the Damascus layers towards the cutting
edge. This concept basically leads to an
odd number of layers (typically 37, 67 or 69,
though other numbers are possible).
Since classically folded and forged
Damascus doubles its layers with each
fold, forged Damascus has an even number
of layers (usually 200 to 300), while San
Mai Damascus can also be distinguished
by its odd number of layers. The quality
mainly depends on the material of the
core; as a general rule, blades made from
contemporary mono steel can be just as
good as or even superior to a Damascus
blade. Such a core Damascus is used in
our Damascus Olive and Damascus Black
series, for instance, where its qualities and
exclusive look have won over enthusiastic
fans for many years.
POWDER METALLURGICAL
DAMASTEEL:
One special type of industrially produced
Damascus is the Swedish Damasteel. The
Damasteel company developed a procedure
to combine powder metallurgical steel into
a true Damascus steel in a continuous
production process. The special production
process of powder metallurgical steel
(such as the CPM-154 in our Boker Pure
CPM series) allows for higher alloys, which
create a particularly fine and even structure
– a basic requirement for the best cutting
performance. The production process
of Damasteel combines the advantages
of powder metallurgical steel with the
fascinating appearance of Damascus, which
gives it a special place among the Damascus
steel types.
Despite its exclusively industrial production,
Damasteel is definitely a premium Damascus
that offers outstanding edge retention and a
high level of corrosion resistance in everyday
use. Boker uses Damasteel for the blades of
our best straight razors, but also as appliqué
or handle inlay for other kitchen knives
(Boker Superior Damascus) and outdoor
knives.
In conclusion, it has to be said that Damascus
steel is not a technical requirement for
producing high quality blades today and that
Damascus as such is not a quality guarantee.
However, like an exclusive mechanical watch
that always radiates a special flair even
though a modern quartz watch would tell
time just as reliably at a much lower price, a
Damascus blade, with its breathtaking look
and often tangible texture, is a piece of living
history. It isn’t always purely a matter of
efficiency – even in our fast paced, high-tech
world, there is some space left for excellent
craftsmanship and the beautiful things in life.