Some thoughts. I use a good bit of Devin's Stainless Damascus. Since I use full tangs on my knives and am not enthusiastic about burying $22/inch damascus under a bolster and handle, I have Devin weld a stainless full tang onto a piece of Damascus that is the exact size of the blade I want. He charges $15 for this and also anneals and surface grinds the weld so it is easy to work with.
I have firends who have used their local welder to TIG weld on a tang with normal Damascus, and pretty much double the mileage they get out of each piece of Damascus they buy. One caution, unless the welder is also capable of annealing the blade, plan your blade so your drill holes will not be on the weld. You can only drill that weld and the immediately adjacent (~1/8") steel if it annealed or if you use carbide bits. Generally, planning is cheaper.
Whoever you get your Damascus from, make sure they stand behind their product and will replace anything with faulty welds. That doesn't really compensate you for the work you wasted, but it is better than eating the steel too. Also, make sure what you get is the size advertised. If they sell you 1/4" stock, make sure it is 1/4". You shouldn't have to pay for what they necessarily have to waste in surfacing the steel.
Generally Damascus steel is like fine wine. You may find a bargain, but you generally get what you pay for. That said, don't practice on the good stuff. Start with the Gallo then move up to the Chateau vintages.
Try it, you'll like it.
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Jerry Hossom
www.hossom.com
