Damascus as a user camp knife?

monster

monster

Joined
Jun 13, 2001
Messages
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I know it's nice to look at but how about in the camp/hunting environment in either a utility or bowie type blade?. Thanks for the input.
 
Senor Gaucho did a review on damascus for fighting blades a couple of months ago. Do a search in the Testing & Reviews forum.
Quick answer: YES.
 
Why? Damascus costs more and generally doesn't add anything to the performance. A good differentially heat treated low alloy blade is the best way to go for a big hard-use blade, 52100, O-1, 1084, 5160, etc.

That or uniformly heat treated CPM S3V.
 
It certainly doesn't DETRACT from the performance if you get good stuff, and you are right, it does look nice. My hunting knife is a damascus piece, and I love it. By the time I am done, my camp knife and EDC will be damascus pieces as well. I love the stuff.
 
Originally posted by Steve Harvey
Why? Damascus costs more and generally doesn't add anything to the performance. A good differentially heat treated low alloy blade is the best way to go for a big hard-use blade, 52100, O-1, 1084, 5160, etc.

That or uniformly heat treated CPM S3V.
Click to expand...

I'm with Steve.

Unfortunately, damascus is overhyped in some circles. Anyone claiming any kind of "super performance" above/beyond the steels used in the makeup of the damascus is ... uh ... engaging in wishful thinking, shall we say. IMHO, anyway. I wish it were more glamorous and exciting than that, but well, it ain't.

At the very best, damascus is a compromise, as you have two or more steels, and the maker can only optimize the heat treat for one of those steels, at best... (I won't even get into carbon migration, etc). The other steel(s) is (are) suboptimally heat treated.

So, nothing wrong with well heat treated damascus, just don't expect it to OUTperform a well treated homogeneous steel or steel alloy. It'll look better though.
 
Darn! Everything there is too say about this subject has already been said ;)

Let me pose a question for consideration however. ABS Mastersmiths will make all sorts of blades from pattern welded steel, but it adds a lot of cost and time, as well as beauty, and does nothing for performance, and may actually harm potential performance.

Assuming you own Both, is a Jerry Fisk camp knife made from 1084 a better user than Jerry Fisk Camp knife made from his wolfstooth damasus? Which would you reach for first when running out into the wild?

I love damascus, but there are sometimes when simplicity has its own virtues...

Para
 
I am with all of yall.
I would reach for the damascus for myself in most cases. That being said I tell my clients if you want it for performance only buy carbon. If the smith knows what he is doing they will perform the same. Like RD said it will not out perform but nor will it be worse.
I am only going to live so long. I want nice stuff to enjoy while I am here. Not to be fancy but just because I like good stuff. I am working on a muzzle loading pistol for myself. Damascus barrel, lock triggers etc. Why, because it is pretty and I like it. No it will not shoot better.
To answer Para again, also depending where upon I goes. When I went to Brazil I took carbon cause it might get ruint. If it is hunting or camping etc, I much prefer damascus. Why, if the hunting is no good then I can look at my knife and say, damn that knife is pretty.
If a smith says his damascus cuts much better he is shooting you a line for sales or he does not know how to work his carbon. You got to be honest enough with the clients so that they know you can play poker over the telephone with them.
jf
 
I hear what everyone is saying it's just that I have quite a few damascus pieces right now and have seen others with blade configurations that I really like. It's just that I want to use these knives everytime I take them out of the safe. I do believe Mr. Fisk said what I was wanting to hear ..." it will not out perform but nor will it be worse", this is really what I was worried about. Mind you I'm not going out to buy damascus hard user blades, I like 5160 and 52100 for those applications, I was just wondering if there are many who like to use their damascus blades in a hunting environment and how they performed? Lots of great input though, thanks guys keep it coming.
 
"Howz the huntin' goin', Vel? Get yer deer?"

"Nope, but damn don't I look good!"

Hahahahaha, If I didn't have a fine damascus knife on my belt I'd just be another skunked hunter. Good man. Mayhap it'll be like you say, Jerry. You might only live so long. But don't you sweat it, you just immortalized yourself with that post.

Seriously though, for the hunting/utility thing, you ain't gonna kill a knife. Gut a deer, slice up some kielbasa and some potatoes, then sharpen a couple of weenie sticks for the night. Your knife won't even break a sweat. Get one and love it to death.
 
Vel, Jerry was immortalized when Congress made him a National Living Treasure, denying him the right to die :)
 
It's all been said and no one can say it better than Mr Fisk.

That being said I carry BOTH pattern welded and plain blade knives in the field or to camp. Usually two pattern welded blades by a local Georgia 'smith, a Talonite blade by Camillus or a VG-10 blade by Fallkniven, or one of 6 or 8 customs in various steels.

I rather look at and use the pattern welded carbon steel. But plain ol' 1095 with the right heat treat works just as good as anything and I can get it sharp in a minute or two. A carbon steel blade is what Dad tought me to sharpen on a bench stone. Now almost any blade is easy with the right stone even most of the "super" stuff. Just takes longer.

Can I tell the difference between blades with-out looking? No, but when I look I rather look good. Because after all "You only feel as good as you look." and I'd rather look marvelious. :rolleyes:
 
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