SPECIFICATIONS:

The name of the knife - EXCELSIOR VI handmade knife by the master of the ANDROSHCHUK KNIVES studio, buy and order in Ukraine
Knife type: Fixed blade
Brand: Studio of exclusive handmade knives ANDROSHCHUK KNIVES 

Steel brand: Blade - Damasteel is a type of steel with visible inhomogeneities on the steel surface, most often in the form of patterns obtained in various ways.
Steel sheet: One-piece, through-mounting on screed and resin
Blade Sharpening Angle: 36 Degree Pointed
Descents: Direct
Taper: 0.3mm
Blade hardness: 61 HRC
Overall length: 273mm
Blade length: 138 mm
Blade width: 32mm
Blade thickness: 4.0 mm
Grinding of the blade: Finish - polished to a mirror
Bolster and back material: Patterned stainless steel
Handle length: 135 mm
Handle thickness: 20mm
Handle Material: Bolster, buttplate and patterned spacers stainless steel, ironwood, walrus tusk, stabilized mammoth tooth, mounting
through the screed and epoxy resin shank for the entire length of the handle
Handle color: Brown
Handle Impregnation: Yes
Handle cover: Yes
Hole for a shoelace (for a lanyard): Yes
Temlyak -  Absent
Scabbards: Italian vegetable-tanned genuine leather, finished with a water-repellent finish and impregnated with protective solutions, stitched with waxed thread. Hand-embossed texture and artistic coloring, wooden insert in the middle. Free suspension

Model: EXCELSIOR VI knife - Studio of exclusive handmade knives ANDROSHCHUK KNIVES
Model number: 013
Country of birth: Ukraine
Craftsman: Master Grigory Androshchuk (Androshchuk Knives), m.Vinnytsia, Ukraine Studio of exclusive handmade knives ANDROSHCHUK KNIVES
Best use: Multi-purpose: hunting, fishing, cutting, slicing, etc
Knife condition: new
The price is indicated with the sheath.

A sharpened knife is not a cold weapon.

Our knives are very sharp, so be very careful when opening and handling them. We are not responsible for any injuries resulting from the use of our knives.
Our products are intended for legal use only by responsible buyers. We will not sell our products to anyone under the age of 18.

Availability changes regularly, after confirming your order we will notify you of availability or when the item is ready. The product may differ slightly from the one shown in the photo.

"Damascus" and "damask steel" what are these tacos and how do they differ?

What is Damascus steel?

Damascus - they call steel that has a clear, well-marked surface pattern, which is a consequence of its heterogeneous, layered internal structure. The drawing stands out in the form of light steel lines on a gray or black background. It becomes especially noticeable after etching the product with a weak acid. But sometimes it happens that the pattern appears after the polishing process.
Since ancient times, exceptional qualities have been attributed to blades with such a pattern: high sharpness, flexibility and strength. Sometimes (especially against the background of products of imperfect medieval technologies) it was so. Why exactly "sometimes" will be discussed below.

In the photo: Folding knife DKH 01 (Damascus).

What is Damascus steel for and why is it so?
As you know, real iron is actually usually an alloy of iron itself with carbon.

• If the carbon in the alloy is less than 0.3%, the metal will be soft, ductile and refractory. It was usually called the actual "iron". The quality and properties of this alloy can be judged by evaluating the mechanical properties of an ordinary nail.
• With a carbon content of more than 0.3%, but less than 1.7%, steel will be obtained. Ordinary steel is very similar in its properties to iron. But it has one important difference: it can be hardened. That is, when heated, and then, sharply cooled, the steel acquires greater hardness. Unfortunately, along with this, it becomes fragile. In ancient times, when the technologies for producing steel and its hardening were not yet properly developed, many products made from it (sometimes even swords and armor) differed little in quality from, for example, a Soviet-made file. Such a file is strong and hard, but try to drop it on the floor or hit it, and it will most likely burst.
• Well, if the carbon content in the alloy rises above 1.7%, you get cast iron. Cast iron melts easily and is well suited for casting, but is hard, brittle and cannot be forged. A cast-iron pipe that falls even from a small height shatters into smithereens.

As a result, we see that iron gives the alloy plasticity and increases its melting point. An increase in the carbon content in the alloy gives hardness, up to brittleness, and makes the material more fusible.

Blacksmiths and metallurgists have always sought to combine these two contradictory qualities in their products - plasticity and hardness so that they complement, rather than refute each other. In addition, elasticity was considered an extremely important property, which none of these alloys originally possessed.

In the old days, tools made of pure iron turned out to be too soft, and those made of overheated steel of that time were very fragile.

We do not know what genius came up with the idea to combine these two alloys into a kind of "sandwich" and thus combine the properties of different materials in one product. But it was definitely a genius akin to the inventor of the wheel or the fire.

Thus, in the manufacture of the blade, a layer of hard steel was laid between two layers of soft iron and forged. As a result, a product was obtained, which, thanks to such a “layered” structure, was stronger than pure iron and more ductile than hard, but brittle due to unsuccessful hardening, steel of those years.

Tools and tools made of pure iron were too soft, and those made of pure steel were too brittle. Therefore, in order to make, for example, a sword, it was necessary to make a sandwich from two iron plates, between which a steel plate was laid.

Such steel was called welded.

In the photo: Hunting knife DKY 002. The blade is made of forged Damascus.

Damascus is a further development of this technology. It occurred to someone (most likely in India) that if the product had more alternating layers, it would become even more flexible and stronger.

The method of obtaining such steel was quite laborious - the iron billet was forged in length, folded in half, then again forged and folded again. This action was repeated sometimes dozens of times. Thirty or forty repetitions would surprise no one. Although hardly anyone would share such subtleties of technology. For a long time, the masters kept it in the strictest confidence.

In the future, other, somewhat (quite a bit) less time-consuming methods were invented. But the principle of action has always remained approximately the same.

The result was a workpiece in which many of the thinnest high and low carbon layers created an amazing structure with new properties. It is the mixing of the layers that gives rise to the very beautiful pattern that distinguishes Damascus steel. It is the structure and the peculiarity of the arrangement of the layers that determine the qualities of the blade. Determine the combination of strength and flexibility in it.

By the way, for a trained eye, the drawing of steel could say a lot. Thus, Al-Kindi, a well-known medieval Arab weapon connoisseur, wrote: “Looking at patterned steel, you see it both outside and inside.” And, perhaps, one of the best European connoisseurs of damask and Damascus steels, P.P. Anosov argued that "... an experienced Asian will not make a mistake in choosing a blade and one at a time 

Zora will determine whether damask steel is viscous or brittle, hard or soft, elastic or weak.

Interestingly, modern experts often say the exact opposite, saying that "the quality of steel has nothing to do with the pattern on it." Most likely, this amusing curiosity is due to the fact that the methods of chemical and mechanical application of a Damascus pattern to the surface of any piece of steel, even an ordinary piece of iron, have long been known, which never lay next to a forge. Naturally, in our time, such fakes have become extremely common.

In addition, from under the hammer of the “master”, who does not know all the features of production, blanks with a pattern, like a real Damascus, but not rising in their characteristics above quite ordinary steel, may well come out. And here, in order to understand, perhaps one must already be a real connoisseur, no worse than Anosov or Al-Kindi.

So, firstly, from all that has been said, we can conclude that Damascus steel can be of different quality, and this depends on the internal structure of the layers and, of course, the skill of the blacksmith.

And secondly, we notice that along with the word "Damascus" the word "bulat" is also used. This, perhaps, is worth talking about a little separately.

What is "bulat" and how does it differ from "damascus"?

There was no single terminology in the old days, but there were many different kinds of local traditions. In addition, the means of transmitting information were very imperfect. For this reason, words and concepts were constantly changed and distorted, giving rise to a variety that was unthinkable in its complexity and illogicality.

We, accustomed to the unambiguity of terms, should constantly keep this in mind when we are dealing with various kinds of concepts and ideas of our ancestors.

Expensive and high-quality steel in different countries and different times was called differently. "Damascus", "Damask", "Wutz", "Kharalug", "Taban", "Khorasan", "Sham" - these names cannot be counted.

So, for a long time, steel of the highest quality in general on the territory of the Russian Empire was called “damask steel” (damask steel). And, apparently, they didn’t think at all that this word comes from the Iranian “pulad”, which meant cast steel.

As V. N. Khoreev writes in the book “Weapons from Damascus and Bulat”: “Damask steel is steel with an abnormally high (about 2% or more) carbon content, which has a set of properties that are incompatible in ordinary metal, namely, the maximum possible hardness and density combined with an equally high ductility. Natural damask steel is obtained by smelting, when a small finished ingot comes out of the furnace, initially carrying a magical internal structure.

The word "damascus", possibly (but not exactly) comes from another Arabic "damask", which means "wavy", "striated". It is not ruled out that this name came from various associations with the East and the colorful pattern of the famous Damascus fabrics. As usual in such cases, no one can say for sure.

The main thing that we see is that damask steel and damascus steel are obtained using completely different technologies. Since they did not know how to melt iron in most regions of our planet for a long time, damask steel was even rarer than welded patterned steel.

For this reason, the use of the term "damask" to "Damascus" is a clear result of confusion and, most likely, a consequence of the fact that few people saw real damask on the territory of the Russian Empire.

By the way, the pattern on cast damask steel can also be beautiful and pleasing to the eye. It is believed that it was laid during the crystallization of the ingot. This happened because iron and carbon, as we have already written, have different melting points. Later, during forging, this pattern could manifest itself in one way or another. But, by the way, some experts argue that it was the fine-grained, patternless varieties of cast wutz (as the Indians themselves called it) that were the best.

Alas, in the place of the invention of damask steel - in India, the secrets of its production were hidden so diligently that in the end they were completely lost. A. Vasilenko in his article "Damask Steel" claims that: "By the end of the 12th century, blades made of cast damask steel of the highest quality ... could not be made either in India, or in Syria, or in Persia."

At the end of the 18th century, Indian metallurgists were ruined by the import of cheap iron from England, and all hopes of restoring the lost tradition in her homeland evaporated completely.

Since then, the metallurgists of many countries have been looking for the secret of obtaining “that very damask steel”. Periodically, joyful statements were heard that the secret of the legendary "wootz" was unraveled. But is it really the same alloy, no one will tell you.

Nevertheless, even in our time, some manufacturers produce limited series of knives, the blades of which are declared as damask. It happens rarely, knives are so extremely expensive. One such manufacturer is, for example, Herbertz Limited Edition.

Are knives made from welded Damascus today?
Yes, dwish. It is forged Damascus, due to its beauty and the legends surrounding it, that is still extremely popular. In addition, the method of its production is no longer a secret.

You can see and buy some knives made of real forged Damascus in the Grand Way online store, and relatively inexpensively. For a very reasonable amount, you can become the owner of a knife, for which in the old days you would have given a small herd of horses or a fair amount of land.

We have a separate category for Damascus knives.

What is Damascus?
When working with Damascus, it is possible to obtain a great variety of different patterns. There are practically no limits for the master's imagination here. Blacksmiths who work with Damascus steel usually do not stop in experimentation, looking for new forms of pattern and methods for obtaining them.

Different types of Damascus are distinguished primarily by the features of the pattern. So, there are striped, mesh and wavy Damascus.

Quite rare, and therefore very valuable in the old days, was considered a cranked pattern across the entire width of the blade. In the East, the varieties Taban (“brilliant”) and Khorasan (“sunrise”) were most distinguished. These were very high-quality damasks, with a surprisingly beautiful pattern: on a dark background with a golden tint, there were clearly distinguishable, clear light lines forming a large cranked or mesh pattern.

In general, a whole tree of variants and forms diverges from these main types. Masters do not stop experiments and searches, and therefore the variety of drawings is only growing.

Does Damascus steel have disadvantages?

Of course, everyone in this world has flaws. There are no exceptions.

The main disadvantages of Damascus at all times were the laboriousness of manufacturing and the high consumption of material. It is believed that among medieval craftsmen, in the course of dozens of repeated forgings, the workpiece lost up to 85% of its weight until it finally turned into Damascus.

Due to such a significant consumption of material, time and effort, products made from such steel have always been very expensive. In addition, the secrecy of technologies, the limited number of craftsmen capable of making such blades, also influenced the price increase.

The second drawback is the fair susceptibility of Damascus to corrosion. The reason for this sad fact is the high carbon content and the almost complete absence of alloying elements in these steel grades.

Therefore, Damascus blades, like expensive stallions, have always needed especially careful care.

After use, they must be properly wiped dry. Keep away from moisture. And in case of rust, immediately remove it with available means (kerosene, sandpaper, etc.)

Are there better steels in our time than Damascus and bulat?

Perhaps the most obvious secret of damask steel was revealed to modern civilization by the same Anosov in 1830. Many minds in Europe struggled with this problem, but only Anosov had Tagil magnetite at hand for experiments.

But, quite soon after this discovery, more advanced, technologically advanced and cheap methods were developed for obtaining steels that combine the properties of strength and elasticity. These grades of steel may not always have been better than cast bulat in all respects, but they definitely made it a more convenient alternative to manufacture.

Progress does not stand still. The technologies of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, as well as the deep knowledge of modern scientists in physics and chemistry, gave us steels and alloys simply unimaginable and unthinkable for ancient blacksmiths. Moreover, they made products from these steels available not only to kings and shahs, but, in fact, to almost all of humanity.

For example, in the Grand Way store, you can find many models of knives that are not inferior in quality to many blades from ancient legends and tales.

For example, the blade of the CH Knives CH 3510 folding knife is made of 154CM, a remarkable American steel with a high carbon content. This steel grade was originally developed for the production of turbines. But the combination of its characteristics turned out to be so attractive to knifemakers that this steel is now firmly entrenched in the knife industry. 154CM is used by knife brands and individual craftsmen around the world.

The fact is that the structure and chemical composition of this steel grade allows it to be hardened to high hardness values (usually about 60HRC) without loss of toughness. The steel does not become brittle. This means that such a blade can be made extremely sharp, but it will still perfectly resist both chipping and mechanical stress.

Of course, 154CM, like all higher carbon steels, can rust if exposed to water or aggressive environments for a long time. But with proper care, "one hundred and fifty-fourth" shows itself from the best side.

The 154CM steel blade allows the CH3510 knife to rightfully occupy a place in the list of really top, premium models sold in the online store grand way. It is worth noting that the quality level of assembly of this knife is also adequate to its high status.
In the photo: The blade of the CH 3510 folding knife from CH Knives is made of 154CM steel.

Of no less interest in this regard is the S3 puukko flipper knife from Real Steel. Its blade is crafted from Böhler M390 premium martensitic chromium powder steel. This steel is distinguished by the highest strength-to-toughness ratio, it maintains excellent cutting edge sharpness and resists mechanical stress. And most importantly, with everything - it perfectly resists corrosion!

Böhler M390 is a premium steel. Knives from it are produced in a limited edition (according to Real Steel knives USA, the S3 puukko flipper series is 600 pieces). Therefore, a personal serial number is applied to the butt of each copy, which is also inscribed in the passport attached to the knife upon sale.

Does Damascus retain its significance in our time?

Yes and no. Moreover, the romantic “yes” here clearly outweighs the dry practical “no”.
Of course, getting Damascus forged is no longer the only affordable way to get high quality blade steel.
But what has not gone anywhere is the aesthetic and cultural significance of this steel. A knife with a Damascus blade is still a very beautiful thing. A welcome addition to the collection and a prestigious, valuable gift.
The legends surrounding Damascus steel blades only add to their exclusivity and significance in the eyes of people. After all, buying such a knife, you get not just a high-quality cutting tool, you get a part of the legend, a small piece of the glorious history of mankind, a reminder of the times of brilliant blacksmiths, great kings and glorious heroes.
Such values are eternal and, perhaps, they cannot be counted in money.

Knife steel CPM-S90V

Well, you can buy a knife made of Knife steel CPM-S90V. Composition and properties. on our website knife.net.ua or by contacting us by phone +380961711010

It is worth remembering that when using a knife for its intended purpose and with careful handling, the knife will serve you for a very, very long time.

 Ironwood - iron wood - handmade knives

Ironwood - iron wood - handmade knives

In nature, ironwood is extremely rare, therefore it occupies an honorable place in the Red Book. However, in terms of its properties, each iron tree is not inferior to the density of cast iron. Its bark can withstand gunfire, but it sinks hopelessly in water. It is worth noting that this is not a separate class of trees, but a whole group assembled from different species. It includes several dozen species of plants with unusually dense wood. They can be found on every continent. Moreover, raw materials are used both in the industrial industry and in medical practice.

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What is special about these trees?

It is quite difficult to recognize the "stone" breed of a perennial plant with the naked eye. Especially if they are on the verge of extinction. However, they are characterized by the following features:

• the age of such long-lived people is not less than 2 hundred years;
• wood fiber is resistant to corrosion processes and does not deteriorate under the influence of strong acids;
• the bark contains many tannins that protect their "hosts" from all kinds of parasites, as well as from the rot fungus;
• the log will definitely go under water, since the density of wood is 1 t / m³, taking into account the humidity of 12%, for this reason, such breeds grow quite slowly;
• the height of each exceeds 25 meters, and the girth of the trunk reaches more than 200 cm.

All these properties are necessary for an iron tree to survive in the harshest climatic conditions. Sharp temperature changes in Russia, African drought or humid European climate will not be able to harm this natural phenomenon. Such varieties of trees perfectly adapt to any adverse environment. For this, they are equipped with a considerable number of devices, starting from the unique structure of the trunk / roots and ending with the chemical composition of the bark. In this regard, they are widely used in production:

• furniture;
• building structures;
• cars;
• cosmetics;
• decorative elements;
• underwater equipment.

High-quality and original steel inserts are a wonderful decoration of exclusive and unique knives of the Studio of exclusive handmade knives ANDROSHCHUK KNIVES (Ukraine), which offers to order and buy online store https://knife.net.ua