What little I know about damascus steel is that it is folded over repeatedly to create the awesome layer patterns. When I talk about a laminated chisel, however, I'm talking about only 2 layers. The back (which creates the cutting edge) is made from very hard steel that holds an edge for a long time. It's only a few mm thick. The rest, including the socket, is made from a milder steel. My understanding is that if the entire chisel was as hard as the back, then it would be so brittle the socket might shatter. All my best chisels and slicks are antiques that were made this way.
