The technique of inlaying gold and silver wire on steel and iron, usually on swords, daggers and shields, is referred to as damascening. This is a variation of the damascening technique While in true damascening a fair amount of gold or inlaying metal is required, in false damascening, or koftgari, the previously scratched design on the surface of iron or steel is simply inlaid with gold or silver wire with the help of a hammer. The surface is heated and hammered again so that the soft gold may spread into the grooves of the design. Thus the gold or silver becomes one with the base metal producing a smooth embellished surface.