What's the difference between Damascus steel and patterned steel?

Basic point: Ancient Damascus steel is completely different from modern Damascus steel.

Ancient Damascus steel is the steel used by Persians to forge Damascus knives. Persian craftsmen made the world-famous Damascus knife from Jane Pride steel ingots imported from India through a special forging process. After the Eastern Han Dynasty, Damascus Knife (Damascus Steel) entered China through the Silk Road, which was called wrought iron. Damascus knives were introduced to Europe during the Crusades. It was Europeans who named this Dao "Damascus Dao". The ancient Damascus Dao was lost before18th century.

Modern Damascus Dao was first popular in America. In 1970s, in order to meet the needs of collectors, some American swordsmen made patterned steel knives by folding forging process and called them Damascus knives, which were sold in the United States. These knives also established their own guild organization, called ABS Forging Knife Association. The appearance of modern Damascus knife promoted the popularization of modern patterned steel forging technology, but it also caused the abuse and confusion of the term Damascus knife.

Craftsman's Workshop Folds Forging Pattern Steel Knives

pattern steel

Patterned steel is a general term, and all swords with patterns can be called patterned steel. For example, Damascus steel, Jian Zihao steel, Blatter steel, Malajian, China ancient snowflake wrought iron and fish tank sword can all be called patterned steel.