Damascus knife

Damascus knife

The Damascus knife is a unique, high-quality, and artistic product. These knives come in various sizes, but most often (like the one in the picture) the metal blade is 21 cm long , width 3-6cm and 2 mm thick. The blade is embedded in a handle, which is usually 12-14 cm long and made of various materials (wood, horn, bone).

2121

craftedobjects,uppercarniola

2025

iain

Physical Object

821

Damaščanski nož.

13/01/2026

13/01/2026

https://prvi.rtvslo.si/podkast/intervju-radio/3633109/174860660 https://mro.si/en/iron-forging-museum-kropa Slavec Gradišnik, Ingrid, 2011: Kovaštvo (Blacksmithing). In: Slovenika, slovenska nacionalna enciklopedija. Ljubljana: Mladinska knjiga (pp 627-628). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damascus_steel

21cm x 4cm x 21cm

current,46.1276625914593,14.229099836053459;

TEXT

2133

Steel and wood.

Cultural

woodwork,metalwork

Fireplace, blacksmith's hammer, tongs, grinding tools, woodworking tools.

Log nad Škofjo Loko 13, 4220 Škofja Loka

Steel with a special chemical composition (different from that used for tools) is purchased from a local distributor.

The Damascus knife is handmade from approximately 320 thin layers of special steel. The technique is around 3,000 years old. The handles are also handmade (from wood, animal bones, horn; there is even a product with an ivory handle in the display case). To make Damascus steel, a special material with a specific chemical composition is used in plates of two different colors (darker and lighter). Ten plates are first stacked on top of each other, alternating between the lighter and darker colors. This "package" is forged to create a connected, homogeneous structure in which the colored layers are visible. This material must then be folded five times. After the first folding, 20 layers are obtained, followed by 40, then 80, 160, and finally 320. Once the material has been welded, it is shaped into a knife using a forging process, and finally a handle is added. Jože Krmelj makes the handles himself from various materials, including wood, horn, and bone. He also makes wooden sheaths for the knives, while the leather sheaths are sewn by another craftsman.Each knife has a custom-made sheath made of wood or leather. The wooden sheaths are made by Jože Krmelj himself, while the leather ones are sewn by another craftsman.

Useful and art product.

The product is a time-consuming work of art that allows for creativity. Jože Krmelj makes Damascus knives in his spare time out of his own joy and enthusiasm for the technique. His customers are individuals from Slovenia and abroad who want a high-quality product that is also a unique work of art. Knives only can be purchased in Krmelj's online store or from him personally, but they are not always available.

Small production, very few items per month; Up to 30 or 50 pieces per year.

Blacksmithing has been a family craft for seven generations; production still takes place in the traditional way, with each piece passing through the hands of blacksmiths who work it by hand. This means that every item is unique, despite being mass-produced. Damascus knives are made by Jože Krmelj in his spare time when no one else is in the workshop (the knives are not part of wholesale production). He has been using this technique since 2010, when he trained with master craftsmen in Austria.

ZRCSAZU_AR_04(1)