Carbon steel at last!

waynorth

waynorth

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Nov 19, 2005
Messages
32,731
I've always admired the "Seahorse" pattern from Case, which, of course, is a Wharcliffe Whittler. I thought they had gotten the proportions remarkably well done.
I have several, but stopped collecting them some time ago when Case ignored the call to produce them in CV or 1095. I carried a couple for a while, but I was never too satisfied with the stainless steel they used.
Although a bit pricey, they have finally come up with one in carbon steel damascus, so I thought I'd try one out. They certainly look nice dressed up this way! Makes me hesitate to start carrying it. Maybe I'll look at it for a while:rolleyes:! No sense rushing things. Besides I have this Bose WT in my pocket:D!
Has anyone sharpened and used one of these Damascus knives yet??
DamStagSeahorse.jpg

Thanks BetsyV for helping me land this fish - - ummmm, seahorse!
 
MMMmmmmm PURDY! :) I like it. I'm wondering what the hardness is???
 
Getting technical info from Case is like pulling Hippo teeth. Testing it oneself is probably the best way to find out, Kerry. What method does the "Wilfred Works" use? I know a guy who has a set of fine files in known hardnesses.
 
This may only be of marginal help, Charlie and Kerry, but this is info on the steel that I received from Rob Thomas earlier this year when inquiring about the makeup of the damascus used in Case knives:

Elliott, yes the raindrop that we have provided for Case the last 3 years is a carbon steel. It is 1075/nickel mix. 1075 is a spring steel. The nickel content is only to add color to the blade and is about 5% of the total weight. Case has decided to use this because it is easy to blank and the cost is reasonable. Devin and I will be upgrading our carbon steel for 2009 to 19C5va. It is a carbon steel made specifically for cutlery, it has vanadium in it which will be a better blade steel. Thanks, Rob Thomas
 
Charlie,

I am pretty sure I remember seeing a Rockwell tester in Tony and Reese's shop. (From pics on the website).

I think most of us lowly collectors ;) are stuck with using files and guessing from experience or heading to a friends shop that has a tester. :D.

BTW congrats on the WT. Awesome knife (duh).
 
Blues said:
This may only be of marginal help, Charlie and Kerry, but this is info on the steel that I received from Rob Thomas earlier this year when inquiring about the makeup of the damascus used in Case knives:

Elliott, yes the raindrop that we have provided for Case the last 3 years is a carbon steel. It is 1075/nickel mix. 1075 is a spring steel. The nickel content is only to add color to the blade and is about 5% of the total weight. Case has decided to use this because it is easy to blank and the cost is reasonable. Devin and I will be upgrading our carbon steel for 2009 to 19C5va. It is a carbon steel made specifically for cutlery, it has vanadium in it which will be a better blade steel. Thanks, Rob Thomas
Click to expand...

Now I'll have to get one in 2009 also! I didn't know Rob had a hand in supplying steel to Case, Elliott. Is he a dealer? Manufacturer?

Gus, do you know if the Rockwell tester leaves much of a mark? I got some seconds from Queen once that had slight "pin-prick-like" dots on them. I assumed they were for testing. Usually one in the tang, one near the back edge of the blade, and one nearer the cutting edge.
Certainly didn't hurt the usefulness of the knives.
 
waynorth said:
Now I'll have to get one in 2009 also! I didn't know Rob had a hand in supplying steel to Case, Elliott. Is he a dealer? Manufacturer?
Click to expand...

Rob and Devin Thomas are the manufacturers of the damascus.
 
waynorth said:
Gus, do you know if the Rockwell tester leaves much of a mark? I got some seconds from Queen once that had slight "pin-prick-like" dots on them. I assumed they were for testing. Usually one in the tang, one near the back edge of the blade, and one nearer the cutting edge.
Certainly didn't hurt the usefulness of the knives.
Click to expand...

Hi,

I've been wanting one of those Seahorse Whittlers too. There are some designs that are just "right". And Case really got these right I think. I'm going to be saving my pennies to get one in Damascus next year.

Yep, that small mark was from a hardness tester. The size of the mark left by the diamond penetrater gets larger as the material gets softer. Since knife blades are pretty hard, not much of a mark is left. I'd be leary of testing such a beautiful blade. The mark might become highly visible.

Bi-material blades like Damascus are kind of hard to get a good test on because of the different striations will cause wildly varying readings if you aren't careful. I sometimes test a new blade at work for fun, but not too often.

dalee
 
I really like the looks of that Waynorth. I think there's one of those in my near future.

If you decide to sharpen it up and use it, let us know what you think please.
 
I don't have the seahose, but I picked up a peanut in Damascus a couple of months ago. I is not as good as CV, but better than TS, which is really not that bad for most things.
 
oldrifleman said:
I don't have the seahose, but I picked up a peanut in Damascus a couple of months ago. I is not as good as CV, but better than TS, which is really not that bad for most things.
Click to expand...

This is my experience with a Damascus peanut also.
 
In my opinion, the hardness test that matters is how hard it is to get me one of those. :D

Who handles those babies and sells them for a reasonable price, and is willing to ship overseas?
 
Well, it's not Shepherd Hills, I know that. I searched on "Damascus" over there and almost had my eyes put out by seeing all these $150 "Bubba Gum" (pink) knives. Why would someone do that to a nice piece of steel?

-- Sam
 
Hello Charlie,

I have used 1075 on two different small custom knives in years past and they did not preform as well as Case's CV or the old 1095. It is a somewhat brittle steel imo and the blade occasionally chipped under some hard use cutting chores. I seem to recall 61-62 Rc hardness as well on these knives because of this, although mine was straight 1075 with no nickel content and not a damascus.

Best,

Anthony
 
Charlie,

Yes they do leave a "pin prick" indentation.
 
I finally talked to someone at Case. Combined with reading the specs you referred us to, sunnyd, it seems that you can wind up with a brittle blade, easily chipped, if you don't treat it correctly. Case told me the lamination, combined with "nickel 200" helps make it tougher; less likely to chip or break. Also prettier!! <G>
 
waynorth said:
I finally talked to someone at Case. Combined with reading the specs you referred us to, sunnyd, it seems that you can wind up with a brittle blade, easily chipped, if you don't treat it correctly. Case told me the lamination, combined with "nickel 200" helps make it tougher; less likely to chip or break. Also prettier!! <G>
Click to expand...

Never any question about the aesthetics, as her beauty is apparent. I was unaware that the laminate process with the amount of nickle Case uses had a positive effect on the strength of the temper. I will have to remember that.
 
Sunny, I think tougher in this case means less likely to chip or break when flexed, just like Mora knives, and old Japanese blades. Can anyone add comment to that??
 
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