I just received this and am again rushing out a review.
This time it is a true Damascus blade -
and just about everything else (except for the decorative mosaic and pins that hold the knife together) is Damascus.
Even the lock-bar and back-spring are Damascus steel.
Size -
Open -
Closed -
Measured just a shade under 4" closed.
2 7/8" Damascus blade (measured to handle end) -
Those 3 pins/studs give grip/purchase to open the blade
Being all Damascus steel the knife is pretty solid and heavy for its size at 5.24oz.
It has file-work on part of the spine and back-spring -
And there's file-work on the handle opening -
and the blade is pretty well centered in the handle.
The action is good with nice lock up and unlocking -
OK....
let me back up a bit - being all Damascus - the knife arrived wrapped in grease proof paper all soaked in thick oil in a small sealed polythene bag.
So I had to be careful in opening and unwrapping the knife to prevent oil/grease getting everywhere.
Then clean the knife - I used WD-40 as a solvent/cleaner inside and out - dried it with kitchen paper towel -
lubed the joints with knife oil - then rubbed AG Russell "No Rust" (inside and out) for corrosion protection.
Then the action was good and smooth.
Test cutting - er - it was about as sharp as a butter knife -
Edge under usb microscope (~110x)
Edge looks pretty poor
I spent over 2 hours on my Work Sharp (belt grinder) Knife Sharpener to grind in a new 20 deg convex edge
and finishing on the Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener - Ken Onion Edition
Edge after sharpening -
The new convex bevels are really wide because the original (laughingly called) edge was very obtuse.
The new edge looks pretty good -
How well does it now cut?
Pretty good on things like paper and shallow cuts.
But will the edge last? -
these are the usb microscope photos after 7 long cuts through corrugated cardboard against the grain.
So it looks like the edge may last -
but the cutting was not that good despite the good convex edge at 20 deg/side -
as the basic geometry was not good, giving a thick cutting profile -
and those 3 opening studs/pins get in the way of cutting through too -
It is somewhat serviceable after substantial sharpening -
it probably will hold an edge -
but not really that good at cutting through things -
any of my SAKs would run rings round it.
ubs microscope pics of
Damascus - Blade -
(original edge in corner)
Handle also Damascus -
outer brass ring of the decorative mosaic bottom right corner.
shown with the Mcusta 33D "Take" (link to review)
Still, it's an attractive looking knife and cost me less than $26 delivered -
more like a show-piece than a workhorse - it can be used at a pinch - but I am unlikely to -
but I had to have it sharp..... it's a knife (even if a poor excuse for one).
--
Vincent
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