Chad's Raindrop

[Wavicle]

I waited several years to get another Raindrop Damascus because it had changed to a pattern that was not very clean, so to speak. With CRK now sourcing Raindrop from Chad Nichols, I decided to pick one up. This Mnandi has excellent stripes in the Macassar Ebony and the Raindrop is crisp and clean. I did notice there is not much topography on the blade so the etch is rather minor compared to the other CRK Damascus blades I have where you can feel the pattern with the slightest touch.

 

[Josh K]

I also have a Mnandi with Chad's Raindrop. It's a large improvement over the other stuff. Neither holds a candle to the oozing high-carbon stuff, but I'll take what I can get.

 

[Ajack60]

Kinda makes you wish you’d hung on to the older DT raindrop CRK’s.
The Chad Nichols raindrop is very nice, wished I’d picked it instead of the ladder for a blade replacement

 

[Lone_Wolfe]

Beautiful!

 

[Mike Large]

What a beautiful knife you have there!!! I agree fully the DT raindrop seemed to have alot of dull spots, in my opinion of course. I did alot of searching on knives ship free for one that looked as busy as possible before I acquired mine. But damn is that blade you have there nice or what....

 

[mlamb]

My thoughts on DT Damascus, just speculating. His early Mnandi, Carbon and Stainless I purchased back when they he were available had a much tighter more refined pattern with less spill out. I’ve also seen the quality of his work drop in the last few years. I read that he was training his brother to help with production. He also supplies Case Knives with his steel a production consumption monster. It’s a art and your skill of the craft refines in time not declines? Maybe he’s unable to keep the quality up with the volumes required.

 

[James Longstreet]

My thoughts on DT Damascus, just speculating. His early Mnandi, Carbon and Stainless I purchased back when they he were available had a much tighter more refined pattern with less spill out. I’ve also seen the quality of his work drop in the last few years. I read that he was training his brother to help with production. He also supplies Case Knives with his steel a production consumption monster. It’s a art and your skill of the craft refines in time not declines? Maybe he’s unable to keep the quality up with the volumes required.

Not sure if this is correct. So far I have not heard that people are unhappy with DT damascus quality and if you take a look at his site, you will find great looking damascus pattern. In 2015 Devin made a statement regarding the changed pattern of his raindrop supplied to CRK. To me it reads like CRK has been asking the change and not that Devin has quality problems.



I also prefer the old DT raindrop pattern over the recent ones. These are early DT raindrop:

21, Mammoth Ivory, Raindrop, 03 by Jedi, auf Flickr

21, UG Morning Sun, Raindrop, 05 by Jedi, auf Flickr

Chad Nichols raindrop:

21, Thuya, Nichols Raindrop, 08 by Jedi, auf Flickr

 

[mlamb]

The Devin Thomas link makes sense. I prefer to older pattern.
Thanks

 

[nyefmaker]

Here is a pic of the Old High Contrast Carbon Steel Damascus for you to compare. It’s pretty close to what Chad is putting out now and a far cry form the recent DT damascus. This is an old UG Classic User I bought on eBay awhile back. I know a spa would do wonders. It’s well used and I have carried it lots myself. Holds a great edge...!!!

 

[untytled]

Here is a pic of the Old High Contrast Carbon Steel Damascus for you to compare. It’s pretty close to what Chad is putting out now and a far cry form the recent DT damascus. This is an old UG Classic User I bought on eBay awhile back. I know a spa would do wonders. It’s well used and I have carried it lots myself. Holds a great edge...!!!

View attachment 862999 View attachment 863000

Hey there nyefmaker Nice Classic!! Glad to hear they hold a great edge. S30V good? Any issues with rust spots, pitting etc on that high carbon dammy? Also wondering if that metallic taste transfers over to food like on slippies that use high carbon steels. I have a HC damascus classic as well I really want to carry but I use my pocket knife alot for fruits, veggies etc on the go and cant stand that taste. When a patina develops on the slipjoints I have it's not as bad. Wondering how something like this would compare. Sorry It's a bit off topic.

 

[nyefmaker]

Hey there nyefmaker Nice Classic!! Glad to hear they hold a great edge. S30V good? Any issues with rust spots, pitting etc on that high carbon dammy? Also wondering if that metallic taste transfers over to food like on slippies that use high carbon steels. I have a HC damascus classic as well I really want to carry but I use my pocket knife alot for fruits, veggies etc on the go and cant stand that taste. When a patina develops on the slipjoints I have it's not as bad. Wondering how something like this would compare. Sorry It's a bit off topic.

I have never really cut much food with it but the few times I did, I never noticed a metallic taste. But I honestly can’t say, so the jury is still out on that one.

On some Carbon Damascus, you will see some “rust” or rouging if you will around the thumbstud. Just because it’s a hard area to get into and clean around unlike the rest of the blade. If a blade is not taken care of, it can obviously rust elsewhere.

I have always likened CRK damascus to perform like S30V which I love and still stand by that. I personally don’t see a huge difference between S30V ans S35VN, though I do feel S35VN is an improvement.

I did a post years ago about all the blade Steels that CRK has used. Try and search for it.

 

[untytled]

I have never really cut much food with it but the few times I did, I never noticed a metallic taste. But I honestly can’t say, so the jury is still out on that one.

On some Carbon Damascus, you will see some “rust” or rouging if you will around the thumbstud. Just because it’s a hard area to get into and clean around unlike the rest of the blade. If a blade is not taken care of, it can obviously rust elsewhere.

I have always likened CRK damascus to perform like S30V which I love and still stand by that. I personally don’t see a huge difference between S30V ans S35VN, though I do feel S35VN is an improvement.

I did a post years ago about all the blade Steels that CRK has used. Try and search for it.

Thanks! I actually remember that thread now that you mention it. I'm gonna re-read it.

 

[dinokay]

Nice Score, always liked the tighter look on the raindrop.