Anyone else dislike damascus?

[Omega Leather Works]

Not sure where to put this.

Anyway, my wife and I were having a little debate on damascus steel. Naturally I won ( ), but it's still bugging me.

The argument wasn't about how well it works as a knife steel, I think it's clear that it works just fine with modern practices being used in its manufacture, but rather, its looks in comparison to carbon (homogeneous) steel.

Damascus is a well loved steel by many knife collectors, but it's just not for me. Anyone else feel that way?

 

[Nal0n]

Apart from very well made Raindrop Damascus I do not like the look of it, too!

 

[Torgesson]

I have to agree as well. I was quite taken with the first damascus piece I ever saw. That lasted all of about 5 minutes. Now I am just put off by it, they strike me as showy and froofy. No logical reason for it but there it is.

 

[CalebR]

Some look great and not overdone. Others just look gimmicky and cheap.


They remind me skeleton watches. At first you think they're the coolest thing since sliced bread but after you're into watches for a while you really start to dislike them.

 

[Bigfatts]

There are definately varying degrees and qualities of damascus. I'm not a big fan of random patterned damascus, Kershaw's DAM line is a perfect example. But start talking Chad Nichols and my ears will perk up. The reason I don't own any damascus is that almost all of it in my price range is non-stainless. Damascus is primarily a luxury like carbon fiber, super steels or high end bladery itself.

 

[humblerodent]

I like the looks of a high quality damascus (Thomas, Nichols, Damast, etc.) but I still prefer a homogeneous steel. I love the clean looks and smooth sheen of a powdered steel with a nice satin finish. Damascus performs well and looks great, but It's just not for me (usually).

 

[singularity35]

Too.busy for me and adds nothing to performance...

 

[Comeuppance]

I like a good raindrop damascus. I'm similarly unimpressed with random pattern damascus - the ugliest damascus I've ever seen was starfire. My god. What an ugly, ugly, ugly, ugly pattern.

I do tend to like Ti-Mascus / Moku-Ti, however. Maybe it's the color?

 

[addylo]

I've always seen it as bling. I know that will offend some aficionados and that done right it is a quality useable steel. That's not to say it's not pretty to look at but it's still knife froo froo to me.

 

[bladeboss]

I'll chime in.
It looks waaaaaay too "artsy" and it never matches the handle material, unless it's stag.

 

[Ztmma]

I feel the same way, although I respect makers who use Damascus.

 

[Bigfattyt]

I am very pattern or individual damascus specific.

Many patterns make the knife more attractive. Some patterns distract me, and make me dislike the specific knife.

It is very individual to each knife.

A nice feather damascus (or enter pattern I like here) or where I can see a whole lot of work went into figuring out how to get the specific pattern to manifest works for me.

Makers who take the time to have the pattern flow with how they intend to shape the blade makes it work for me.

Dragon pattern, sunburst, dragons flame, etc, etc, can all be fantastic. really really tight damascus pattern also works for me.

I often don't like low fold/layer, but that is not always a given.

Between two given knives, made the same, with the same handles etc, I might choose san mai (layered over a core), or a nice hammon, but if the damascus works, it simply works for me.

 

[A Justice]

Yeah, I'm not particularly impressed with the aesthetics of Damascus, but I did really like the composite Damascus that ZT released on one of their folders. I don't know if I've ever been impressed with a blade that was fully Damascus.

I appreciate the effort it takes, and the skill, to pattern weld and fold that much steel, I just prefer homogeneous steel for a knife. I understand why it costs more, but I don't understand why some makers and collectors place it on a pedastal - I don't understand why the Master ABS test is making a Damascus blade (for example, becoming a Master Sommolier you have to take a large written test including almost every piece of knowledge pertaining to wine making, and then have to identify 6 wines just by taste. Forging a couple Damascus blades in your own time and submitting them for testing, seems like that should be the test to be a "Master Pattern Welder").

To each their own.

 

[2 shot]

Some of it with the right combination of materials and style are stunning!

 

[Moxy]

To me, Damascus seems to be more of a aesthetic touch for safe queen knives. I just don't see why anyone would spend the extra coin for a beautiful raindrop pattern and then go scratch it up with use. In reality, they don't get used all that much. How often do you see a user Sebenza with a damascus blade in the for sale section? Pretty much never. And I don't like owning knives I won't put in my pocket. I'll stick with stonewashed.

 

[eschwebach]

It's beautiful if done right, but I agree with Moxy I wouldn't want to scratch it up with use (and I use all my knives). It's not for me. I only own one Damascus knife and it is a custom friction folder, and I do plan on using it regardless of the Damascus.

 

[liamstrain]

I agree with many others here. As with anything, there are good examples and bad. When used by a good maker, as a deliberate element in harmony with the other materials and styles, it can be a stunning component of a great knife. It can also be a cheap add on to use as a gimmick to sell an otherwise boring knife. Just as a cheap chinese skeleton pocketwatch, doesn't hold up compared with a perfectly executed openwork movement from an ultra high-end manufacturer.

 

[double7]

Some look great and not overdone. Others just look gimmicky and cheap.


They remind me skeleton watches. At first you think they're the coolest thing since sliced bread but after you're into watches for a while you really start to dislike them.

Ha! I love skeleton watches, but you have a point after a while they seem gimicky. A skeleton watch is what got me into this whole mess, first i got into watches, then guns, now knives

 

[Tripwire895]

I like damascus, but only certain patterns. I think feather is cool but river of fire is really what gets me. Short of those two patterns though... I tend to prefer the more homogeneous steels. I really dislike raindrop. The two patterns I mentioned have a certain "flow" to them, where the grain leads from the ricasso to the tip. Raindrop doesn't have that continuity in my opinion.

 

[CalebR]

Ha! I love skeleton watches, but you have a point after a while they seem gimicky. A skeleton watch is what got me into this whole mess, first i got into watches, then guns, now knives

They really all do go hand-in-hand. I have yet to own a skeleton watch but there are a few that I do like...but they're upwards of $10,000+. Honestly, I prefer the open-heart design more where only part of the movement can be seen. Much like this Zenith