Cheap Damascus (W/Photos)

[Confederate]

I've always been a sucker for Damascus blades, but the ones that were the most affordable were the least attractive. Bear & Sons had some very low cost knives which have since shot up in price. I have one of their folders and it holds an edge for longer than I expected. Recently, however, I bought three low-cost (under $50) knives and, I'll be frank, I bought them solely for their looks. Now that I've got them, I'm wondering what sort of construction they have.

I e-mailed the seller and he said "there is a steel rod inside the handle which is welded to the tang of the blade, and a rod with threads" is tightened in the base with a screw. He assured me the knives could be used, but to me his description of the knife's construction doesn't sound very robust. I suspect what he does is order the blade blanks and put them together himself. The handles are gorgeous, but there are some tool marks here and there. He says the blade's hardness is RC 58 and when the knives arrived, the blades were swabbed with a Vaseline type substance that I removed with a toothbrush and dish soap. Then I dried them and coated them with BreakFree CLP. The blades sharpened up nicely, but I have no idea where they were made (Pakistan?).

Does anyone have any idea what I bought? Or has anyone bought any from the same seller? I'm going to keep them just because they are beautiful. They're also heavy, but I know some people weight down the handles to make knives seem better than they are. I just don't know what to expect if I drop one. Is the handle likely to fall off?

Thanks!

This is by far my favorite. The blade is very shiny and I
love the groove.

This one feels the best in the hand. Very nice balance.

This one is my second favorite. I'm thinking about mounting
it in my study. You have to see it to fully appreciate it.


The following is one of my Bear & Son folders. It's undoubtedly a much better blade (512 layers), but not as purty, alas!

If any of you have any cheap Damascus
blades (or some expensive ones) you can photograph,
please post them here.

 

[hardheart]

tangs are welded all the time, damascus is labor intensive, no use in putting pattern welded steel inside a handle where it will never be seen. threaded pommels are also common no matter what the blade material.

still, for the price, I wouldn't count on the work being that crazy awesome sturdy.

 

[shecky]

Rough Rider Damascus keychain lockback knife. A very good knife, too. It was about $11. About 2 1/4" closed. It's since been re-profiled and re-etched, changing the pattern a bit. Have no idea what steel is involved, but it's good enough.

 

[Seals]

Those look like Pakastan knives,but they are prolly worth what you paid and could be used.

 

[Confederate]

Thanks. Yes, even if I just displayed them, they'd be worth what I paid. The blades seem sturdy and I know from the Bear & Son knives that Damascus (pattern welding) can indeed be heavy. The only disappointing thing were the sheaths. One of these days I'm going to have to learn how to make my own.

The Rough Rider I think is just etched, not layered. Interesting look, though. Marbles is a brand I've actively avoided because I don't like the way they stamp "Marbles" into the steel. I also don't like the patterns. The thing about Damascus is that it all depends on what kind of steels you begin with. Some people say just the layered effect in itself will keep the blade at some level of sharpness, even if it isn't a whole lot. I haven't used it enough to know that, however.

This is called the Bear Executive. It's very small.

Again, the blade's attractive, but the layers aren't
very pronounced.

Here the Executive is pictured next to three Fenix
EO1 AAA flashlights. (They're great lights, BTW.)

 

[Ozy]

Heres a couple of pics of my Boker Thuya Wood lockback (not the best pics)

 

[Confederate]

Cooooool. What does the text say? Is there a story behind the knife?

 

[Ozy]

Cooooool. What does the text say? Is there a story behind the knife?

No real story, its just a Certificate of authenticity, it came in a wooden box

300 later damascus, African Thuya wood for the handle.

Its a very small lockback at 2" blade & 4" overall.

 

[Mick R.]

Confederate-I also bought a Bear Sideliner (ebay impulse buy) like yours but absolutey hated the look of the bone-stag handles. I sanded off the dyed section of the bone and came out with what I consider a much nicer looking set of scales - sort of an apoloosa bone. Pic below is the Bear with a couple of Gerber's I bought back in the 70's.

 

[Stainz]

I have a 14" Bear MGC Damascus Bowie - a $100 perenial deal from SMKW. They are made here in AL. Best buy/pound for Damascus!

Here are my Damascus folders, top down: Buck Custom Shop 110 with teardrop Damascus, nickel silver bolsters, and flaming koa scales; Bear 597D; and a Kershaw Damascus Leek. Not shown is that massive Bowie. The Bears and Kershaw have blades made by Alabama Damascus, part of Bear up in Jacksonville, AL. The folders ran me ~$175 from Buck, <$50 from an evil-bay store auction - with no reserve, and $75 mail order. The Buck seems sharper, the Bear and Leek cut paper better - probably that 512 layer edge micro-tooth effect. They look neat - but even 'standard' metals - 420HC, for example, cut better - and are a significant amount less in cost. The Damascus looks neat - there may be another one in my future... not today, of course.

Stainz

 

[Dag-nabit]

Here's some more damascus

Sorry, the damascus pattern doesn't show well in some of the photo's

Kanetsune Shinobi

Kanetsune Ten

Kanetsune Katana

Fallkniven NL5cx

Christopher Davis Customs

Puma Tec Folder

Kevin

 

[T.K.C.]

I love Damascus! Here are my Damascus knives.
1. Bill Buxton Hunter.
2. Bob Terzuola
3. Matt Cucchiara Mini Scrapper "Dolphin & Gecko."

 

[Dag-nabit]

The mini scrapper is real unique, I like it :thumbup:

(I like all of them, but that one really catches my eye)

Kevin

 

[Confederate]

Well, here's another one. Why do you guys like Damascus? Is it because of the looks or because of the way it cuts? I have to say looks for me. If there's one Damascus blade in a display case, it seems like it draws my attention over all the others.

 

[Dag-nabit]

Well, here's another one. Why do you guys like Damascus? Is it because of the looks or because of the way it cuts? I have to say looks for me. If there's one Damascus blade in a display case, it seems like it draws my attention over all the others.

Well that's a good question, I would have to admit all my damascus blades are collectors not users so I can't tell you what the steel is like for everyday use.

I guess that puts me in the "like the look" catagory.

I imagine, like any steel, good grade damascus that has been properly handled and heat treated likely makes for a very good blade.

Kevin

 

[nate3993]

top one is my favorite too-didn't bear and sons had damascus that nice