Was waiting for that.True, historical Damascus steel is a lost art - nobody now knows how it was really made. It did outperform many other steels of the time but modern techniques can create steels of similar or better performance.
Modern Damascus steel (which is about all you'll run into) uses a technique called pattern welding to create something that resembles the original. It's very beautiful but that's really the only value-add, the aesthetics.
Danasteel uses a different process too.
What I really want is some timascus, but its a bit pricey and I haven't found it in the size I need