Cart before the horse

Raymond Richard

Raymond Richard

Joined
Jun 17, 2001
Messages
5,705
Something that has bugged me for a number of years is how many wannabe new makers just got to start making damascus and know nothing about making knives. It really is about the knife. So many see damascus steel and the knife is just an after thought. Guess I've never been bit by Mascus Bug but the Knife Bug sure has had its teeth in me for years. Well there it is, I've said it......
 
Speaking as a newbie who's just learning all of this, damascus is something I'd LOVE to learn to make (and have plans to). That being said, the most important thing to ME anyways is making a beautiful, functional piece. Doesn't matter if it's O1, 400 layer damascus, or old coil spring. To me an ugly knife is ugly no matter how exotic it's components.

Just my $.02 anyways...

-d
 
There is that learning curve that will be discovered by someone trying to start out with damascus. I can think of about ten problems they will encounter right off the bat. Imagine spending a couple hours hammering away just to get a billet and then screw it up when you try to pound it into a blade. But that is for them to find out I guess.

How high of a stack of screwed up billets would it take to realize you have wasted an enormous amount of time and money and have nothing to show for it but pure frustration?
 
For me it is about the knives, but...
I have to admit that when I first got into this (recently), I was amazed by some of the damascus blades on this site. I was all excited to make damascus blades. At $10+ per inch I knew that I couldn't afford to screw up.
Luckily, in some posts about grinding, someone said to the effect "you can read all you want about how to do it, but if you just grind at least 20 blades then you will get the hang of it". So I got some cheap pieces of A2, and I plan to make 20 knives before I use any expensive materials. I'm making as wide a variety as possible to keep learning. I've finished about 5 now, and I feel that I'm improving at a good rate. By the time I get to 20, maybe I'll be ready for damascus. At my pace that will be more than a year from now.
 
You are right Ray...its easy to be smitten by the painted lady. There is something about it thats hard to put a finger on.
 
I'm a wannabe new maker myself, but I have no plans on damascus. Since you brought it up in the context of new makers, I'll screw up my courage and express something that bugs me...all the truly great knifemakers out there (and in here!) making so darned many damascus blades. Some of the knifes I see posted here are so very beautiful, except for the damascus! Light damascus, now and then, used discreetly, is a treat to the eyes, but a lot of the fancy stuff is getting used ad nauseum (IMHO). Alas, I suspect it is not just the artistic inclination of the makers, but the fact that it sells. I just find it a shame, sometimes, when I see a truly exceptionally shaped and crafted knife, and all it's sublety is overwhelmed by a crazy pattern.

There, I've said my piece too.
 
I'd like to try damascus oneday but I know I have alot to learn first and I would rather make a nice knife out of a plain steel than ruin a knife in damascus.

I started out just doing handles, now I am working on stock removal. Someday I may move onto forging but that depends on getting more equipment so we shall see. I won't be making my own damascus for a long time and I am fine with that I am in no rush I have alot of other things to learn. Also there is alot of damascus I find just too in your face I prefer subtle. I would rather work on getting nice hammons to doing damascus.
 
tnmike said:
You are right Ray...its easy to be smitten by the painted lady.
Click to expand...
(Ramble On) The "Painted Lady" sells a lot of knives, but I have discovered that it is usually to people who know nothing about knives, what they are made from, or how they are made. (I must exclude collectors from that group, as they view knives in a different genre than the general public)

Many have heard the term "Damascus", seen a few, and thought they were the "coolest" things ever. These are the same people that will buy a damascus knife, put it in a safe (in the leather sheath), and pull it out every Christmas to show the kin-folk, then wonder why it has rust spots all over it.

I have tried my hand at making damascus, and discovered early-on that I was not equipped to make it properly. (Hand-made with no press or power hammer...What a major effort that is:thumbdn: ). Although I was successful, the time and effort far outweighed the benefits.

Now when I get a request for a damascus blade, I "grind" one from someone elses steel.

Give me a blade made from 5160, 1084, 1095, or O-1 any day, and I will be happy........... Oh Wait........... I don't buy my blades:D :D

Decide on what steel to use, then learn all you can about that steel and how to take it through the various stages of heat cycles in order to turn out a quality product. It doesn't necessarily have to be one of those pretty "Bling-Bling" knives, but it must be functional and does what it is designed to do.

Just my .49 cents worth (and that is .47 cents more than most folks offer:D (Ramble Off)

Robert
 
speaking strictly for myself,I don't get that choked up over hamons.I use a lot of 1095,and it doesn't bother me in the least to polish it out.but again,that's why they make chocolate and vanilla.
 
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