Alabama Damascus

[timsclips]

I am just getting everyone's reaction when you see that a knife is made with Alabama Damascus steel for the blade. Is it good for the money? Do you consider it too soft? Is it the best commercially available? I believe it is used for both Case. Bear and Kershaw Damascus blades. Do the different knife manufacturers get better (or worse) results with it?

Any opinions?

If this is the wrong forum, please move it.

 

[Incahiker]

I had some in a kershaw barrage but I wasn't really impressed with it. It did hold an edge just fine but I just didn't like the damascus pattern. If you like the pattern then the steel will cut just fine for you, it gets extremely sharp. The only damascus I like is actually damasteel that benchmade uses on there gold class knives. That stuff looks awesome and its steel properties are awesome too.

 

[The Amazing Virginian]

Don't know. No. Definitely not. Don't know.

 

[jdm61]

I was at the Lakeland show a couple of weeks ago and Brad was there. A number of the custom makers in Florida were using his steel. He is a nice guy and seems to be a straight shooter. I think that people definitely like the price of his product. I have heard one maker say that he got a "soft" piece the one time he tried it, but the other folks around here appear to be happy with it. I saw some guys who get top dollar for their folders walking out of the show with big billets of his steel. If nothing else, it is a way to get your hands on some "real" damascus ( as opposed to Pakistani crap that won't harden for sure) without breaking the bank. I think that some of the stuff the I have done is purtier, but there is no way that I could sell any of it for what Brad does. As for the best "commercially available"probably not. Guys like Hoss and Del among others will sell you the same stuff that they use for their custom knives, but you will pay more for it.