Damascus for daily field use?

T

TANGUS

Joined
Oct 6, 1999
Messages
629
Hello everyone. I've used the search portion to attempt to answer my question, but most of what I saw was on the forging. This is a simple question:
Realizing that the real answer would be in the type of metal in the forging and the tempering, etc., generically, will a damascus blade hold up for field use as well as other carbon steel stock reduced blade? With proper care, I am thinking that the damascus blade should perform every bit as good as any of the milled steel. Therefore, my question is more towards usability rather than the details in the forging (although this is a most important part). Any comments out there for the guy that is going to use damascus as a "user"?--Thanks for your comments

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Try a RAK-(Random Act of Kindness)-you'll like it!
 
From everything I've read and heard, it depends most on the particular damascus you're using; on how it's made and who made it. Some of the damascus out there is more decorative than anything else, some is comprable to the best in other steels. Clestin Sinyard's damascus, for example, is suppossed to stand up great to heavy use.
 
Yup,
DDR is right! I've been carrying this EDC folder with a D2 Damascus blade[Mike Norris] for a week or so.....this stuff is bad to the bone! And really too good looking for me to be carrying
rolleyes.gif


The stuff cuts really well, and I haven't had any corrosion problems so far with minimal care. Its a really aggressive cutter. Its got D2, a Sandvik version of 440C, and 302 Stainless. Very nice ladder pattern. DDR ground it really thin to my specs[.015" at the edge], and NO chipping so far. At this rate I don't expect any.

I'm VERY happy, ....give some a try.

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Stay Sharp!
Will Fennell
Camillus Cutlery
www.camillusknives.com
 
I will have to agree with Darrel & Will regarding Mike Norris damascus. While I have no experience with the D2 version, I have nothing but good things to say about the 420V version (well, aside from being a little tougher to sharpen than the non-stainless variety). The stain resistance is great, as is the edge holding. I have the ladder pattern which looks as good as it performs.
 
Well, I got this one for a user:

http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/001710.html

I been beating on it for awhile now, and I expect it to keep performing for generations to come. There is a little description and first impression review there if you are interested.

I've had other damascus stuff, but this is the first one that I got exclusively to be used on a regular basis. I am impressed so far, and this will not be my last damascus user by a long shot.

 
The best edge holding damascus would be a double high carbon mix. It's main drawback is the rust factor.

Stainless is a good edge holder. I just shipped a double stainless knife to Phil that was 56-57 on the Rockwell scale. This is excellent for AEBL and 304 mix stainless. AEBL is made by UDDEHOLM a Swedish Company and its used for Scapels. The 19C27 that WIll spoke of is made by Sandvik another Swedish company. It is the same as AEBL they are not a 440C. 19C27 has cr 13.5, c .95 440c has cr 17.0 c 1.0 These two materals both hold an excellent edge but are by no means the same.

Arthur D. Washburn
ADW Custom Knives

[This message has been edited by BeowulftheGeat (edited 12-15-2000).]
 
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