...Not a HEMA member, but I'm going to drop my 2 cents. Actual Damascus steel is stronger than standard steel ones. Think of the folded steel of a katana. Damascus is around that strength and was prized by medieval swordsmen. With that said, if your friend had actual Damascus sword he would know. Those cost an arm and a half with a house and a person's soul. It's more likely that the sword is a stainless wall hanger with etching or painted on to have Damascus pattern.

With that said, do not spar with swords that are not HEMA sparring equipment and do not spar without full protection and watchful eye of experienced swordsman(like a long time HEMA member). Even when blunt medieval swords could break bones and crush skulls(after all they were originally designed to fight against full metal armor).

Edit: That begins to cover the price for a true Damascus steel knife. A full sword should cost more. But that's just basing it on the Damascus knives that I ran into, and these were half art half weapon.

Also, it's very good that you wear protection, but make sure you always practice in a group of three and at least one of them is a experienced HEMA member. HEMA members to keep the whole thing safe, and three people so that if the two people sparring caused a double lethal injury(which is possible) there will be a third person to get help.

Only an complete idiot spars with metal blades, your suppose to use wooden swords not metal ones. Do you ever see sword schools teaching to spare with metal sword. No because they are not idiots and know enough not too.

Even blunt swords have tips that can cut or go through you.

Sheesh children like you are so stupid

Just cause we know we share in time lock it might happen if you have a sand clock jer face. Martials know the truth about sword technique why ask you a balleck in the zone next question .

So here's the situation:

I regularly spar with my carbon steel longsword (HEMA). I have a friend who wants to spar with me and he says he has his own sword. When I saw his sword my first thought was that it was a wall hanger, looks like one of those nice-looking Kit Rae ones, so I told him that stainless steel was not good for sparring.

But upon further inspection it turns out his sword is made from damascus steel and is blunt as well. So, my question is can a blunt damascus steel sword withstand sparring with a carbon steel one? I told my friend that he'll get dents and burrs on his sword if he uses it, but he's fine with that. I'm just concerned that it might snap in half.