Colt Mustang Damascus - Cheap Knife Mis-sold as Full Tang?

A

aminal

Joined
Oct 30, 2011
Messages
6
Hi People,

I'm new to knife collecting and have got started with a Colt Mustang Damascus.

Initially I was very pleased with the knife, it looks gorgeous and feels high quality, but when I showed it to a friend he commented it wasn't 'full tang' as described on the website.

...Have a look at the pic below, you can see the Damascus grain on the blade but then the metal that runs though the handle is clearly NOT Damascus. Does this mean it's been welded on and presumably will snap off as soon as it gets put to any work?

I appreciate any light you guys can shed on this.

Many Thanks,
Chris

From the website:

"Featuring a 37-Layer Raindrop Damascus steel blade forged from a single piece of surgical grade steel. And the edge comes very strong, and very sharp indeed, right out of the box. The blade features a full-tang design for optimum durability. The handle has ergonimic scales for hours of comfort and control in all conditions. An excellent field tool with Colt pedigree and superb quality."

> 37-Layer Raindrop Damascus Steel Blade
> Single-Piece / Whitetail Staghorn Handles
> Full-Tang Design for Maximum Strength
> Best Leather Belt Sheath

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All of the Colt knives are imported (from China) and owned by United Cutlery, so far as I know. Technically, this knife does look like full tang construction (full tang = tang itself is full width & length of the handle), although it does appear that the blade & tang are separate and welded or soldered together. Assuming it is imported and relatively inexpensive, that doesn't really surprise me. A full length of damascus steel would cost more, I'm sure. I wouldn't expect this one to hold up to hard use (no batoning or heavy chopping, for sure).
 
It is a cheap, imported knife. What do you expect? Damascus steel costs more, so they probably welded the blade onto a non-damascus steel tang (to reduce cost).
 
even if the tang is welded on i garauntee you that weld will not break if they did it properly, even minor welding with mig would hold up to 60k lbs of tension per in^2, so have fun with it
 
i got one,they are around $50 here,super sharp with a dammie blade,cow bone handle kinda looks like stag...
 
brets-ftw said:
even if the tang is welded on i garauntee you that weld will not break if they did it properly, even minor welding with mig would hold up to 60k lbs of tension per in^2, so have fun with it
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This is what I was going to say. Done correctly, the weld will not be a weak point at all.
 
aminal said:
how much would you expect to pay for a knife like this?
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Asking values on a knife is only allowed to paying members. Don't do it.
aminal said:
It arrived with a "Made in Pakistan" sticker on the blade
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You answered your own question in a round'about sort of way. I would not expect much, hope you didn't blow too much cash on it. Here is a tip, if you want to collect quality knives on a budget stick with the knives that have manufacturers forums here.
 
It's not raindrop-patterened damascus, and I think it's kinda hard to make damascus out of a single piece of surgical steel.
 
I think smkw collaborates with Colt for knives now.United Cutlery isnt around any longer.That Bowie looks alright.Pakistan damascus usually is a pretty low quality,but for a user it may make you a decent knife.As said before,it well could be damascus all the way back.Its just been polished to shiny.Most of the Paki blanks i see are not welded tangs.
 
brets-ftw said:
even if the tang is welded on i garauntee you that weld will not break if they did it properly, even minor welding with mig would hold up to 60k lbs of tension per in^2, so have fun with it
Click to expand...
I was in 2 minds about whether to send it back or not; but if a welding on the tang is an accepted manufacturing technique then I'm happy(ish). I did buy it mainly for display, though I like the idea that in 10 years time I have need of a decent blade I can pull it off the shelf and put it to work without it breaking!

RevDevil said:
Asking values on a knife is only allowed to paying members. Don't do it.
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apologies.

RevDevil said:
You answered your own question in a round'about sort of way. I would not expect much, hope you didn't blow too much cash on it. Here is a tip, if you want to collect quality knives on a budget stick with the knives that have manufacturers forums here.
Click to expand...
I paid £100 for this, so that's about $150! see why I didn't expect it to involve cost-cutting :(

Knives seem to be a lot more expensive in the UK and I'm struggling to find any decent sites... I bought this from BKCG.co.uk (official british knife collectors forum) but wasn't impressed with their pricing or customer service so will not be going back. I will have a look at the manufacturers forums here before making another purchase.

Thanks for all the info guys
Chris
 
Seals said:
I think smkw collaborates with Colt for knives now.United Cutlery isnt around any longer.That Bowie looks alright.Pakistan damascus usually is a pretty low quality,but for a user it may make you a decent knife.
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again thanks for the info! I just noticed your "for a user it may make a decent knife". Would it not be users who require better construction from their knives? If i was just going to hang it on the wall then I wouldn't care how well it was made. I have a United Cutlery replica Blade (the movie) sword that I wouldn't want to swing as it feels slightly loose when held by the handle but I don't mind as it looks awesome.

Seals said:
As said before,it well could be damascus all the way back.Its just been polished to shiny.Most of the Paki blanks i see are not welded tangs.
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On the 1st photo I posted you can see the a dark spot just under the handle; I think this is the weld. Would you agree?
 
take another picture in better light to show the dark spot better. you could also etch the exposed part of the tang to see if it is damascus.
 
aminal said:
I was in 2 minds about whether to send it back or not; but if a welding on the tang is an accepted manufacturing technique then I'm happy(ish). I did buy it mainly for display, though I like the idea that in 10 years time I have need of a decent blade I can pull it off the shelf and put it to work without it breaking!


apologies.


I paid £100 for this, so that's about $150! see why I didn't expect it to involve cost-cutting :(

Knives seem to be a lot more expensive in the UK and I'm struggling to find any decent sites... I bought this from BKCG.co.uk (official british knife collectors forum) but wasn't impressed with their pricing or customer service so will not be going back. I will have a look at the manufacturers forums here before making another purchase.

Thanks for all the info guys
Chris
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Whoa. Me personally, I'd return that ASAP. You can get much better for 150 USD, probably even a real quality Damascus blade (maybe not a big bowie like that, but a nice fixed blade still).

EDIT: Check out the Kanetsune Yoroi, if I had an extra 150$ laying around I'd go for that. Even if it took an extra 20-30$ for shipping.
 
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THE PUNISHER said:
yep i would like to see a test on this knife,disasembly hard use treatment..
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I don't want to mark it in any way as it would make it non-returnable...
richard j said:
take another picture in better light to show the dark spot better. you could also etch the exposed part of the tang to see if it is damascus.
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pics below. Please let me know if you think this is a knife worth keeping or sending back!

IMAG1804.jpg

IMAG1805.jpg

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yeah that looks like the weld, and to be honest i think for 150USD you can do a lot better
 
Looks like a weld to me. And as stated, for the amount of money you paid for this one, you can get something with much better in quality. I'd send it back & keep looking.
 
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