damascus folder question from inexperienced collector

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RICHARD BYARS

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Sep 26, 2016
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I want to add a damascus blade to my collection. I do realize that they cost more and are likely of lesser quality than some other steels, so lets not get into that discussion. I feel that my collection should contain an example of damascus steel. I have some degree of admiration for all of the knives listed. To date the most that I have spent on a knife is around $300, but I can afford much more and plan on spending more in the future.
1. Mcusta small name with damascus blade -really VG10 steel
2. Benchmade small dugout with damascus blade- can’t find anything about the steel used
3. Spyderco Delica 4 with damascus blade-really VG10 steel
4. Kizer minitherium with damasteel damascus
5. Chris Reeve small sabenza with damascus steel- Devin Thomas Damascus
Please give me feedback on these knives and/or suggest others I should consider. I am leaning toward the Kizer minitherium, but concerned if Kizer is a good brand and reasonable value . I will buy a CRK sabenza, but not sure if it is the one I want in damascus. I am likely to buy only one damascus blade in my life. This blade may never be used.
 
For a high-end collectible, I would skip all the commercial brands and do a bunch of research into customs. There are many great makers, but they won't all appeal to you. Look at the gallery on SharpbyCoop's website. Look at Don Hanson III's website, to name only one. If all goes well you could have a one-of-a-kind piece that is really stunning.
 
Kizer/Kizer Vanguard makes a nice knife but I believe that WE/CIVIVI (at a similar price) is a better knife overall. CIVIVI in particular makes a striking but inexpensive Damascus based on their 9Cr steel. It's by far my favorite budget damascus.

Mcusta and Spyderco damascus patterns are very subtle, unless you get a Spydie with Damasteel damascus. I have a Native with Thor Damasteel and a Delica with standard damascus and there's a huge difference between the two. Mcusta have a faint, almost "hamon-ish" damascus pattern that may not really scratch the itch for you.

I believe all Chris Reeve current damascus runs are Chad Nichols, not Devin Thomas. Both are beautiful in their own way. If you're dead set on Thomas damascus, you'll likely have to look on the secondary market Also, try to look at the various patterns in person; raindrop, ladder, boomerang, etc. all have their own unique appeal. If you don't want to use your damascus blade, I'd suggest going with standard S35VN of S45VN on a CRK. A Sebenza needs to be USED to be properly appreciated.

I've never seen Benchmade damascus first-hand.

If you've got the money, maybe reach out to one of our local craftspersons here on Blade Forums. Commission a custom knife and truly make a collection piece? Check out the Exchange to get ideas.

Good luck.
 
Check Frank Edwards work at Blade Gallery.
Inexpensive (for pattern weld) and nice designs. On my wish list.
Personally, I'd go Damasteel only because it's more pretty.
 
FIRST, thank you all for your input. I don't really like the Mcusta because it is not really damascus. I (apparently unlike most) don't like the blade shape on a Spyderco. As hackenslash says... I think I would rather have regular blade material on a Sebenza. I want a Sebenza for sure! That Leaves the Kizer Minitherium and Civivi/We blades. I kind of thought that Civivi/WE were inferior knife companies, so I will have to do a little reading on them. I also like the idea of customs as jideta and richard338 suggested and have something really nice. If I can get something in the $700ish price range I think that will be the way I go. I just can't justify paying $1500 for a knife to look at.
 
It's probably just me but no way would a Chinese knife be a centerpiece / one of a kind in my collection. For a true one of a kind, I would for sure go custom.
 
I DIDN'T realize that Kizer was Chinese..Thank you Boattale. I had started zeroing in on the Kizer, but will keep looking. I looked at customs and all that I saw are $1500 plus and just not worth that to me. I am now thinking a knife made with Damasteel is my best bet because it may fit the price I am looking for. Anyone have a suggestion for a damascus folder around the $700 price. I am really not looking for a knife that will be the centerpiece of my collection just a nice example of damascus.
 
I love my Mcusta Tactility but I'm not 100% sure it is a real Damascus steel. It is a SanMay, laminate for sure because you can see it in the back of the blade -
the harder metal in the middle, but both sides look more as an etching to me then as the real thing. I could be mistaking.
I would go with the Sebenza from your list, the rest are good picks but have not much to do with custom... :cool:

JRbNN0.jpg
 
POCEH KOCEB said:
I love my Mcusta Tactility but I'm not 100% sure it is a real Damascus steel. It is a SanMay, laminate for sure because you can see it in the back of the blade -
the harder metal in the middle, but both sides look more as an etching to me then as the real thing. I could be mistaking.
I would go with the Sebenza from your list, the rest are good picks but have not much to do with custom... :cool:

JRbNN0.jpg
Click to expand...
"Sanmai" (three parts or layers in translation) is a construction method, not a type of steel. It has a thin hardened core with softer steel on both sides. Some sanmai has damascus cladding, some doesn't. Its a laminate, in that it has layers of steel bonded together, but so is pattern welded damascus. That knife in the picture above has a hard VG-10 steel core with pattern welded nickel alloy steel damascus cladding. It is a damascus blade nevertheless......
 
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Arathol said:
"Sanmai" (three parts or layers in translation) is a construction method, not a type of steel.
Click to expand...
I did not say that it is a type of steel... I said it's a laminate, wasn't sure if the two parts around the VG10 core are Damascus steel or pattern welded cladding, that's all.
 
RICHARD BYARS said:
Hackenslash- I DO really like the Rod Olson blade. Will check into that.
Click to expand...
I'll try to get some actual pictures of mine to show the finish on the blade. I believe Rod uses Damasteel, but his gloss finish give the damascus a very unique sheen.
 
I want a small Sebenza 21 with macassar ebony inlays and the S35VN steel or at least a non damascus steel. Doesn't seem easy to find. AS far as a damascus folder I looked at many customs including the ones mentioned above and they were just not worth the asking price to me. Then I thought of a custom knife maker that I had bought a knife from before NOLEN KNIVES and checked his site. He did not have any folders, so I decided to go a different direction.I bought two fixed blade knives from Steve Nolan. The first was made by R.D. Nolan #187 on site and the second was a damascus blade made by Steve Nolan #425 on site. The damascus was Alabama Damascus and not my preferred type, but both blades are VERY nice and he gave me a nice discount because I was a previous customer and buying two Knives. I was unable to upload the pictures of the knives, but urge readers to go to his site. Really nice customs at a fraction of the price of others. R.D. Nolan made most of his knives in the 70's and I don't think they ever increased the prices. Can anyone tell me more about Alabama Damascus?
 
Böker has plenty of Damascus knives in their collection.
Both modern and tradition and also fixed blades.

~Wouter
 
RICHARD BYARS said:
I want to add a damascus blade to my collection. I do realize that they cost more and are likely of lesser quality than some other steels, so lets not get into that discussion. I feel that my collection should contain an example of damascus steel. I have some degree of admiration for all of the knives listed. To date the most that I have spent on a knife is around $300, but I can afford much more and plan on spending more in the future.
1. Mcusta small name with damascus blade -really VG10 steel
2. Benchmade small dugout with damascus blade- can’t find anything about the steel used
3. Spyderco Delica 4 with damascus blade-really VG10 steel
4. Kizer minitherium with damasteel damascus
5. Chris Reeve small sabenza with damascus steel- Devin Thomas Damascus
Please give me feedback on these knives and/or suggest others I should consider. I am leaning toward the Kizer minitherium, but concerned if Kizer is a good brand and reasonable value . I will buy a CRK sabenza, but not sure if it is the one I want in damascus. I am likely to buy only one damascus blade in my life. This blade may never be used.
Click to expand...


Kizer is a fantastic company, their knives tend to like a break in period before you loctite the pivot to your preference but they do great work and if a given design speaks to you then you will probably be very happy with your purchase.
 
Known-source damascus (Damasteel, Devin Thomas, Chad Nichols, whatever custom maker) tends to be better than unidentified stuff. The "brand name damascus" tends to be more transparent than unnamed: Damasteel uses RWL34 and PMC27 particle metallurgy steel, Devin Thomas uses AEB-L and 304 in his stainless damascus, Chad Nichols uses AEB-L, 440C, nickel, and 304. The in-house stuff tends to be proprietary, and we're generally lucky to find out the base alloy.
 
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