As you can tell by my name I am a welder/fabricator. I am actually in school right now for the finer points of welding, any way enough about me.

 

 I was wondering if it is possible to make Damascus from different grades of high-carbon steel. I am asking because I want to make a bowie knife for a friend of mine and me for American civil war reenacting. we are fed up with crappy mass produced blades that break thirty minuets after buying it.

 

any help is appreciated

Yes, generally the pattern won't be as distinct; but they've been doing it for close to 2000 years and the nickle alloys are generally only a century or two old.

thanks Thomas

if you are a newbie to forge welding and Damascus.. You best bet is to start with a blade made only from one kind of material..  Get down how to do this then move into pattern welded blades..  

try reading the knife making classes, we covered.. oh never mind.....