Some billets incorporate copper and stainless steel exhibiting a bronzed and sunburst pattern. Other billets use alternating layers of stainless steel and nickel silver to produce an undulating pattern across the bevels of the blade. Some materials can be dark-etched for contrast or etched and re-polished for a more subdued pattern.
Depending on the Damascus pattern, anywhere from 40 to 90 percent of the steel that a master smith starts with ends up as scrap on the floor. A master smith peels, sands, grinds, and re-forges the steel to an exquisite core with a mesmerizing pattern.
