Damascus collect or use?

four_shore

four_shore

Joined
Oct 21, 2010
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In over 2 decades of being into knives I never really had an interest in damascus blades.

Thanks to Spydercos upcoming ti/dam Delica that may become a thing of the past.

I realize that it's a VG-10/Damascus combination but my question is, do you guys actually use your damascus blades or simply collect them.

Being strictly a user I would have a hard time purchasing a knife for collection purposes only.

Obviously there's no wrong or right answer, i'm just curious..

(i apologize if this subject has been discussed before, i couldn't find anything).


thanks
 
I own 3 damascus folders and use them all, although for light EDC (opening packages, etc.)

There is an excellent Youtube video called Using Damascus where solo knifereview uses the same Sebenza Damascus I have to cut all sorts of stuff, without a scratch. But it depends. If you have a super steel core or the damascus is stainless, you should not have a problem. If the damascus is 1095 and L6 or some other softer, high contrast combo, you may want to think twice. I'm no expert, though.
 
I just started a thread under general knife discussion with a photo of one of my damascus EDCs. If you have time, check it out as well. It took me a while to get up the nerve to use it, but now I use it with great pleasure. And fondle it a lot.
 
I would have no problem using a good damascus blade, but I don't think there is any advantage to one unless you just like to look at it or have something that is different.
 
I have a William Henry, and had a Jerry Halfrich damascus, and couldn't bring myself to use either.
I know its made to be used, and many do, but with a regular blade scratches can be fixed pretty easy, and with damascus it must be re-etched after scratch removal.
I have read about re-etching though, and it doesn't sound like it would be real difficult.
 
I don't have any damascus blades but I have had my eye on them for a while. Personally, I think the reason I haven't gotten one yet is because I know I wouldn't use it. To me, damascus is more of a work of art instead of a tool. Just my two cents!
 
Damascus this day in age is more for looks then anything. They need to be taken care of allot to keep then looking nice. I know the Kershaw ones rust really quick if not oiled regularly after use. So my collection does not see any use except looking at.
 
I like you, buy all knives with the intention of using them. Part of the fun in collecting knives, and the reason I keep draining my bank account buying more, is that you need more than one knife to all of the tasks "knives" can do. For example I have Henry Williams that is just beautiful, it's thin blade and zdp steel makes it my go to knife for scalpel tasks. Do I edc it? Of course when I anticipate I will need that kind of work done for the day. I have a Damascus that I open letters with and a Damascus that I do light camp work. Would I ever baton with it? No, I have another knife that could do a better job and would not damage the appearance of the knife as much.

I say use it, what is the worse that could happen, a few scratches? Maybe you would need to replace it if you are one of those guys that loves to display them, but hey I bet the blade looked good while it was doing it, and I dont know about you but always needs another excuse to buy a new knife! I do have designated Show knives, although even those get light use, just not hard use. I know some guys are more of the pure collector type, and they are probably cringing right now, but personally think it is disrespectful to the knife and the maker to let it sit in a box or something. Fundamentally knives are tools, tools a meant and should make life easier, and they only do this when they are used. So Damascus, customs, and production knives all all fundamentally the same, they are knives and therefore should be used.

When i fist got into mid techs and full high end customs I like you was hesitant to use them. However once I got over that I found a greater pleasure in using these knives than I did just displaying them. I also take good care of all knives and would never spine whack a knive even if I did want to see how it holds up in a SHTF situation haha. Off my modest soapbox, Yur free to use away brother!
 
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I'm the worst... if I own it, it'll get used... I'm not much on "queens" and show stuff. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with having stuff like that, it's just not "my style"

That said, I don't take the best of care of things, I do wash, lube and do maintenance on my equipment, I just don't go through extremes to do it... I don't have any damascus anything yet (one one the way). but you bet you backside I'm going to use it for what ever needs cutting!

Chester does bring up a good point about quality. IMO, or may be just in the twisted world in my head, the better the quality the better use you'll get out of it. May be damascus is one of those high maintenance things... like my ex, if that's the case damascus will be a thing of the past... a beautiful thing of the past =(

Thats just my opinion though...

Topic unrelated... I used to much butter to cook this fish...
 
I too have always wondered if anyone uses their Damascus blades.
I'm currently on the verge of purchasing a small sebenza Damascus for a daily EDC user. I also never hear anything about it's edge holding abilities, although I'm sure it's more than adequate for my uses.
 
I went through my damascus phase a few years ago. It is attractive, but does absolutely nothing for use. If you don't collect and have to use all your knives, then maybe you won't end up liking pattern welded steels. To me, all the effort in the folding and welding is just a waste if I am just going to mar the appearance. The only reason all that work is done is for looks, so imo the only reason to buy it is for looks, and the only way to treat it is for looks.

But it depends on how you use a knife and how much you care about the looks of the blade. I have a wootz blade, because the looks come with the historical method of production. I don't use it, since I don't want to mess it up and I have many other knives with much better steels.
 
Another thought...

The fist damascus blade I ever owned was my shun kitchen knives. I have used these for years and they dont rust as long as you don't let the sit in the sink afterwards. I am not sure how they treat their damascus blades and if it is any different than most folding blades but I would not consider them high maintenance. The texture is different but I do not know enough about damascus blades to tell if shun does something to prevent damage. Can anyone weigh in on this?
 
Sharpski said:
Another thought...

The fist damascus blade I ever owned was my shun kitchen knives. I have used these for years and they dont rust as long as you don't let the sit in the sink afterwards. I am not sure how they treat their damascus blades and if it is any different than most folding blades but I would not consider them high maintenance. The texture is different but I do not know enough about damascus blades to tell if shun does something to prevent damage. Can anyone weigh in on this?
Click to expand...

I'm having problems believing that Shun knives will rust in the sink. The damascus cladding and steel core all modern stainless steels.

I have owned Shun kitchen knives since they first came out and have never noticed any sign of corrosion on the steels, not that I would ever leave cutlery in the sink.
 
I have a belt knife by sean o'hare in tool steel damascus, I use it. I take care of it, but it gets used. Keeping the blade dry and clean isnt a problem for me, as ive been using damascus and carbon kitchen knives for years now. The edge retention is just amazing, its a work horse!!

Im contemplating another damascus blade as we speak...
 
If I ever bought a damascus knife, it would be used. As said earlier, if I buy it, it will get used. There is simply no need for safe queens in my opinion. They were made to be used, so used they will be.
 
I've a couple old Parker/Edwards damascus folders that I used constantly until I switched to AO's and SAKS. I also have several antique/vintage damascus blades from France and the middle east which are strickly collection; not to mention my Nihonto (which I don't use for dismembering anything :-)
\

Rich S
 
TheGame said:
If I ever bought a damascus knife, it would be used. As said earlier, if I buy it, it will get used. There is simply no need for safe queens in my opinion. They were made to be used, so used they will be.
Click to expand...

There are Collectors and there are Users, and some are both. I am lucky to count myself in the latter category.

As mentioned by Rich S, some people own items that there just isn't any practical need to use. I collect swords and similar antique weaponry, no need to do anything with these except to look at them and wonder about their history.
 
CWL said:
I'm having problems believing that Shun knives will rust in the sink. The damascus cladding and steel core all modern stainless steels.

I have owned Shun kitchen knives since they first came out and have never noticed any sign of corrosion on the steels, not that I would ever leave cutlery in the sink.
Click to expand...

Haha I not saying it would and I wouldn't know bc I would never either. They are cleaned dried and put back in the block before I even eat. My point was not to say they would rust it was quite the opposite. Sorry for the misunderstanding!
 
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