Blank for a Damascus patterned article

A stainless steel blank for making a Damascus patterned article, comprising:

• a core comprising a nitrogen alloyed, martensitic stainless steel comprising chromium in an amount of 11 to 25 weight %, nitrogen in an amount of 0.60 to 5.0 weight %, vanadium in an amount of 0.90 to 5 weight %, and carbon in an amount of at least 0.2 weight %,
• a first steel layer comprising a nitrogen alloyed, martensitic stainless steel comprising chromium in an amount of 11 to 25 weight %, nitrogen in an amount of 0.01 to 0.5 weight %, and carbon in an amount of at least 0.2 weight %,
• wherein the core is made from a powder or a solid steel plate produced by powder metallurgy,
• wherein the first steel layer is made from a powder,
• wherein the core steel has a thickness of 10-50% of a total thickness of the stainless steel blank,
• wherein the stainless steel blank comprises 5-100 steel layers on each side of the core,
• wherein at least one steel layer of the stainless steel blank has a matrix with a PREN>25,
• wherein the PREN=weight % Cr+3.3 weight % Mo+30 weight % N,
• wherein a difference in the PREN between adjacent steel layers is >1,
• wherein the Cr, Mo, and N are dissolved in the matrix, and
• wherein a combined content of carbon and nitrogen in the core and in the first steel layer is at least 0.5 weight %.