History of Damascus Steel: A Thing of Beauty From a Time Long Ago Developed from wootz steel imported from India in 300 B.C., Damascus steel is a style of sword making defined by the uniquely organic patterns on its blade. Uncommonly resistant to shattering, its acute edge made it legendary in Europe and the Middle East during the time of the Crusades. While the exact origins of Damascus steel are unknown, its strength and prowess gave rise to several apocryphal stories detailing its ability to split hairs and feathers midair. However, due to the secrecy of Arab sword makers and break down of trade routes between Asia Minor and the Middle East, the technique was seemingly lost in the 18th century. Damascus Steel and William Henry An upholder of tradition, William Henry is proud to introduce their line of handmade Damascus steel blades. Inspired by the mysterious techniques of ancient sword makers, the artists at William Henry have recreated this lost art form for the modern era. Uniquely elegant, the “Modern Damascus” by William Henry is forged from an alluring combination of alloys such as iron, steel and copper. Using only the best Damascus artists in the United States, each billet is distinctly patterned to create a truly exclusive piece. Harkening the time-honored ethics of classical bladesmiths, William Henry’s line of Damascus steel knives are more than romantic reproductions, but state-of-the-art blades, and works of art meant to be treasured for a lifetime. Featured Damascus Steel Three styles of Damascus steel highlight William Henry’s hallmark line of collector knives and luxury gifts. ●
Hand-Forged Damascus: Forged from over 300 layers of steel and iron, hand-forged Damascus steel by William Henry is characterized by its traditional patterns of banding and mottling reminiscent of flowing water. Featured in William Henry’s signature line of knives, the blade’s resilient edge is resistant to shattering.
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“Copper Wave” Damascus: The luxurious “Copper Wave” style of Damascus is created from 45 layers of copper and stainless steel, and a VG-5 stainless steel core. Distinguished by its unique wave pattern and glittering amber-hued copper highlights, the patent-pending steel measures a hardness of HRC 59.
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“Wave” Damascus with ZDP-189: A complimentary partner to the “Copper Wave” Damascus, the patent pending “Wave” Damascus features 45 layers of stainless steel and nickel silver, with core made from ZDP-189 steel. Patterned using a custom dye, the
wave-form designs on the blade can be dark-etched for a higher contrast or re-polished for a more subtle look. Featured Blades Find below the William Henry lines featuring Damascus steel blades. ●
B05 – MONARCH
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B06 – VENTANA
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B09 – KESTREL
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B10 – LANCET
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B11 – PERSIAN
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B30 – GENTAC
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B02 – MORPHEUS PENDANT
The Damascus steel knives found in these lines have been hand crafted for the utmost quality. Incorporating exotic materials such as 10,000 year old woolly mammoth teeth, dinosaur bone, and mokume gane (the ancient forging technique once used to decorate the hilts of samurai swords); each knife is its own personality statement meant to be passed down generation to generation. A Statement of Quality William Henry takes great pride in its creations and designs. For over 17 years, they have strived for a seamless integration of classic techniques, exotic materials, precious gemstones and innovative metalworking. For more information on Damascus steel and their collection of damascus steel products, please visit them at www.WilliamHenry.com.
About Us: Creating a legacy of distinction since 1997, William Henry has been a luxury brand dedicated to bringing ground breaking and functional designs to the world of men’s jewelry. The winner of the 2013 JCK Jeweler’s Choice Awards, their devotion to procuring exotic and stateof-the-art materials has made it a unique voice in the industry. For more information, please visit them at www.williamhenry.com.