Damascus Knife Use

[peter nap]

I'm getting ready to build another knife to trade for hunting rights. I made a bilit of damascus and was going to use that but then I started wondering if the guy will use it. Do any of you use a damascus blade or do you make your using knives from a working steel like 5160. I can't ask the fellow because he doesn't know about it yet.

I gave my son a damascus hunting knife made from Bruce Evans damascus. He shows it off and keeps it on a shelf but hasn't used it to skin anything yet. Makes me wonder which way to go!

 

[pyrguy]

The two knives I carry in the woods are both damascus bladed knives. One is a drop point with the handle "dropped" a little, kinda like an older knife I saw once. The other is a 3 1/2 finger skining type blade from the same maker. The first knife skinned and quartered, except for the pelvis, two deer with-out touching up. It would still knock the hair off your arm without dragging.

I also carry a Damascus folder on the weekends. I also have three other Damascus fixed blades. I am always on the lookout for a nice knife with a pretty pattern in the blade. But they must be able to be used, not an "art knife".

Make the knife, show him it can be used, than keep reminding him to use it.

 

[Bruce Bump]

Damascus is supposed to be used. The heat-treatment must be done properly though. The double-carbon such as 1084/15n20 will harden very hard about 65 rockwell hardness and then should be drawn back to 57 -59. The damascus with pure nickel in the mix is harder to test on the rockwell tester because the nickel layers are soft and can also tear at the weld areas when flexing. The best damascus working grade knives are all carbon layers.

 

[peter nap]

This is a two carbon damascus. It is 5160 and something else that I have no idea about. It spark tests like carbon and forges well. No matter what I do it does not file test hard when quenched. It does however take a tremendous edge and holds it pretty well. I posted a while back about a knife I forged and could not harden. Anyway it makes a good contrast. A few odds and ends thrown in mostly 1050 and other 10 series steel. They make a nice random pattern.

Anyway, thanks guys. I think I'll go ahead and make the damascus. It'ss funny, I have never sold a knife but while up that way today, I saw 3 people with my knives on their belts. I remember when all you had to do was ask for permission to hunt.

 

[Bruce Evans]

I know what you mean peter.I ask guys about old bones in there fields and they are glad to give them to me until they find out what I do with them then they want a knife in trade for them instead.And I am the one out collecting them,they only point in the proper direction.
Go figure..
Hey at least they are carrying your knives and using them,that will eventually get you some buying customers..
Bruce

 

[Greg Covington]

I have had that happen plenty of times.....a person finds out you make knives, then they want to trade junk for it.

I actually enjoy watching a "semi-non-knife" persons face when you tell them how much you charge for a knife.

"Uhh..you mean someone will pay $200 for a knife...uhhhhh"

 

[Will52100]

"Uhh..you mean someone will pay $200 for a knife...uhhhhh"

I love to see non knife peoples faces when they learn how much a hand made knife cost. Heck, there are factory knives in the 200$ range!

My personal preferance is 52100, I havn't found anything that will compare to it yet. With the things I do to a knife, I wouldn't want to use a damascus blade.(I tend to use a knife as a screw driver, chissel, prybar, can opener, wire cutter, and even skin some game) However, I beleive that any one that wants to should be able to, meaning the blade should be heattreated corectly so that it can be used.