Damascus steel is a type of crucible steel that was actively manufactured in the Middle East from about 1100 to 1700. The steel-hardened swords were legendary for their strength and sharpness, and soon became an object very appreciated among the armies of the time. They are easily recognized by the characteristic undulating patterns on their leaf. Unfortunately, the exact technique of its manufacture was lost centuries ago, and since then it has been the subject of almost mythological conjectures for metallurgists from all over the world. Some universities and scholars claim to have found the same but the reality is that the original production formula seems lost forever.At present, some craftsmen reproduce the technique of Damascus according to these studies achieving results that are, at least, equally as surprising . It involves tempering (putting the steel red hot and passing it through the water) 8 times with different degrees of intensity and in each of those steps, giving shape to the leaf.
