Damascus swords were particularly prized during the time of the Crusades (11th to 13th centuries), when European knights encountered their superior cutting ability. Legends claimed these swords could cut through lesser blades or even split a hair falling on the edge. While those stories are likely exaggerated, they speak to the high regard in which Damascus blades were held.
https://www.dskkblade.com/coll....ections/damascus-kni