VSE Inc Damascus FAQ

Where is it made?

Our damascus blades and knives are hand forged for us in Rajistan India from a traditional High/Low carbon steel.  Knife making has been a traditional art, passed down father to son since the Mogul empire first established it's weapons industry here.

Who makes it?

VSE Inc has established a relationship with several local families producing traditional knives.  We travel there regularly.  Many of the knives are our design, as interpreted by local craftsman.

How is it made?

Most of our damascus is a "bird's eye" pattern.  This pattern is most clear in the thicker areas of the blade and becomes more random near the edge.  The variance in pattern is a function of the hand craftsmanship.  Industrially produced damascus is very even by contrast.  There are about 100-150 layers of High and Low carbon steel in a 1/4 inch thickness.  These layers are created by folding and hamering billits of steel repeatatly until the desired number of layers is achieved.

How is it treated and tempered?

Our blades are oil quenched and tempered to a Rc 50-55.  The entire blade is heat treated so the tang or handle may be difficult to drill.  We recommend carbide drill bits for finishing.  

After tempering and polishing, the blade is treated with sulfiric acid to bring out the pattern.  The hard layers of high carbon steel remain shiny while the low carbon darken to create the typical damascus pattern.

What about finished knives?

Finished knives are generally decorated with either silver or gold koftgari.  This is an ancient technique where the surface steel is heat blued and then a design is scratched into the steel.  Molten silver or gold is then applied so that it adheres only to the scratched areas.  Every design is individual and reflects the skill of the artist.

Availability and Price of Damascus.

We currently have about a dozen different patterns of blank blades in stock, daggers, hunters, fighters,  and drop points.  Several are on our web site www.highland-arms.com or on eBay (search seller "sussen").   We also have unfinished bar stock and finished Rajistani knives.  Feel free to e-mail us for a list and photos of our current inventory.  Ask for Karl,   sussen@sussen.com 

VSE Inc

878 Bank st

New London CT 06320

(860) 437-340