How do I sharpen a damast kitchen knife?

We sell over 200 kitchen knives enhanced with a blade made from damascus steel. Damascus steel is steel that is comprised of a number of layers of steel that are forged on top of each other. Producing damascus steel is a true art form. As such each knife is unique because every pattern is different. It is therefore not that surprising that some people ask if you can sharpen a damascus steel blade. The answer is short and simple.

You can easily sharpen a knife with a blade made from damascus steel. In fact: there is no difference between sharpening any other knife and sharpening a damascus steel knife. The only thing we would like to add is: be careful. After all, a damast kitchen knife is usually valuable and it is a shame if you are left with scratches on the blade. So if you know how to sharpen a kitchen knife, you also know how to sharpen a damasteel blade. No idea how to sharpen a knife? Continue reading!

Different sharpening methods

There are many ways to sharpen your kitchen knife. Each method has its own technique depending on the desired result.

Are razor-sharp results most important to you, and do you love spending hours of your time practising to perfect your skills? If so we recommend using sharpening stones. Without a doubt these stones will leave you with a razor-sharp edge. Not in the mood to spend too much time? If so try a knife sharpener or an electric sharpening machine. Want to vary in terms of sharpening angles without ever having to guess if you have got the right one? Why not check out our manually operated sharpening systems. For daily maintenance we recommend a sharpening steel. And with a good leather strop you can give your knives the finishing touch: you will make them shine like never before.

Please note: You cannot hone a damascus steel blade with a honing steel. These knives mostly have a hardness of 59 HRC or higher. The steel of the knife is therefore harder than the steel of the honing steel which means you could damage both.

For each sharpening method we have enough instruction videos and info-topics to help you out.

Maintenance damast kitchen knives

We advise you to always wash your kitchen knives by hand, especially if you own a damast kitchen knife. Aggressive detergents in a dishwasher tablet can cause irreparable damage to your knife.

Detergent affects hardened steel and plastics and can leave you with rust on the blade and dull handles.

In addition, chances are that your knife could come into contact with another hard object in the dishwasher. In the cutlery tray for instance. This could damage the edge of the knife and it will definitely affect the sharpness. But that is not all. If you don't immediately turn on the dishwasher any left-over food (spices, herbs, sauces) can damage the blade and cause stains.

Combine all above-mentioned aspects and you will understand why we advise you to wash all your kitchen knives by hand.

Storing damast kitchen knives

Never store individual kitchen knives in your kitchen drawer. If you put a knife in a drawer you run the risk that it will come into contact with other hard objects, like in your cutlery tray. As such burrs can emerge on the edge. Not exactly beneficial for the sharpness of your knife. In addition, damast kitchen knives are true works of art that should be seen! If possible use knife guards, a wooden knife block or, preferably, a good knife magnet you can use to proudly show off your kitchen knives.

Want to know everything about damascus steel? Why not check out our topic: What is damascus steel?’