Damascus as an EDC; Sharpening??

ZippoThisKnifeThat

ZippoThisKnifeThat

Joined
Oct 7, 2009
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Okay guys, there has been some fairly recent and reoccuring discussion on using Damasus as an EDC, but there is little to NO talk on how you go about sharpening Damascus! :confused:

I know many do not dare use their Damascus blades for edc let alone Sharpen it, but for those who do have Dama users, do you sharpen it yourself? If so are there any extra steps to protect the pattern?

The first day I received my DamaSeb I put it in my pocket and edc'd it for a good week. After putting a couple scratches on the pocket clip and cutting up cardboard boxes at work I retired it from cutting since I worry for when the time comes for sharpening.

I know I can send it in to CRK or sharpen it myself, but I am curious to know if any of you actually sharpen your Dama blades and if so how do YOU go about doing it?

Thanks!
oh and we need something to look at..
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Most of my edc's are damascus or damasteel. I sharpen them all the same as my other knives, sharpmaker and japanese water stones. I have a damascus addiction. ever seen the river of fire seb? just awesome. I have Bill Burke making me a bar of it for a fixed blade.
 
As MT Damascus said, it's pretty much like sharpening any other blade.

I have a CRK Mnandi with a Devin Thomas blade that sees regular, but not EDC, use carried clipped inside a front pocket. I've touched the edge up with my Spyderco ceramic bench stones when needed, but you can use whatever quality stone you prefer. Try to follow the original bevel as much as possible and you should be OK. Especially from Chris Reeve, I trust the original sharpening to be done at the proper angle.

It may be a little difficult to see, but the Sharpie trick is helpful here. If you don't know that one: use a Sharpie (or other permanent marker) to colour the bevel. Very lightly, sharpen the blade with one or two strokes and see how much of the colour is taken off. If you have the angle correct, only the marking will be removed. If too high an angle, you will leave colour behind towards the spine. Too shallow an angle will leave colour behind on the very edge of the blade.

BTW, I also have a Large Classic Sebenza, but that does not have a Damascus blade, That sees daily use as a back pocket EDC. I use the Mnandi for dressier occasions.
 
so i take it the pattern can scratch off? for example if the knife was open and dropped in gravel then ran over i am pretty sure the pattern on the blade would be ruined?
 
Liquidm1980 said:
so i take it the pattern can scratch off? for example if the knife was open and dropped in gravel then ran over i am pretty sure the pattern on the blade would be ruined?
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The patern on damascus is made more visible by etching the blade but even if you polished it you would still be able to see the patern. The etch will fade over time with use but the patern will still be quite obvious. If you reground the blade or sanded it flat then it would look just like a normal piece of steel, as you would have nothing to contrast the two steels used to make that particular piece.

Edit:

This is a pice of damascus I have with a light etch just to show the patern. I just sanded this back with 80 grit to remove the etch. You can actually still just see the patern on the sanded part with the naked eye. A heavier etch like you would see on a finished blade will be far more robust than this. :):thumbup:

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Liquidm1980 said:
so i take it the pattern can scratch off? for example if the knife was open and dropped in gravel then ran over i am pretty sure the pattern on the blade would be ruined?
Click to expand...

If it's true damascus (layered) steel, then the pattern is in the steel and cannot be removed. It is etched to make it show more to bring out the beauty, but it will always be there just a matter of how much it shows.

ThumperACC
 
ThumperACC said:
If it's true damascus (layered) steel, then the pattern is in the steel and cannot be removed. It is etched to make it show more to bring out the beauty, but it will always be there just a matter of how much it shows.

ThumperACC
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You can remove all visibility of the pattern by removing the oxidation (as shown by Haze).
 
MT Damascus said:
Yes, but cant a guy just do an acid dip and get the pattern back
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Yes, which is why the pattern never disappears. You aren't unwelding the steel. You can remove the pattern from visibility by removing the etch though.
 
Thought I had replied in here a long time ago!

Thank you everyone for your input and further knowledge on damascus!

I figured most would say they sharpen their damascus just as you would any other steel, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to ask. Perhaps one may be more careful or utilize a certain technique to insure the protection of the damascus pattern. I have a sharpmaker, which has been collecting dust [except for touch ups] since I've received my Apex Edge Pro, but FEAR putting my DamaSeb anywhere near the rig. lol

The "River of Fire" damasucs is truly impressive!
 
ZippoThisKnifeThat said:
since I've received my Apex Edge Pro, but FEAR putting my DamaSeb anywhere near the rig. lol
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When i had my Raindrop blade I sharpened it on my Apex and put a nice mirror edge on it, looked reallll nice. The key is go slow, and start with a sharpie on the edge and use the 1000 grit stone with no water and start at a higher angle than you think, do a single pass and see where the sharpie rubbed off, and start moving down the angles till you match it exactly. That way you don't have to worry about marking up the etched design.
 
TyFrameLock said:
When i had my Raindrop blade I sharpened it on my Apex and put a nice mirror edge on it, looked reallll nice. The key is go slow, and start with a sharpie on the edge and use the 1000 grit stone with no water and start at a higher angle than you think, do a single pass and see where the sharpie rubbed off, and start moving down the angles till you match it exactly. That way you don't have to worry about marking up the etched design.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback!
I am aware of the previous steps you listed and have successfully put mirror edges on 4 knives, but my confidence sinks when dealing with such an expensive knife. lol
But you're are exactly right step for step as to how I should go about it. If and when I do it, I'll post back her with pics. :)
 
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