Damascus or S30v steel?

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ostanley99

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I am looking at 2 knives. They're both spyderco enduras. The damascus version is about $100 more than the S30v. I don't have any experience with Damascus knives. Is the price jump simply because of the difficulty of working with Damascus steel? The prices are $65.97 for the S30v and $155.97 for the Damascus version. I'm looking for a solid edc knife. It would be used for both utility and self defense(should the need arise) and I figured it would be a good idea to put this question out for people who know more than me to reply to
 
I am likely not smarter than you. HS drop out here. However, Graduated with Top Honors from the SOHK. School Of Hard Knocks.
Me thinks: Damascus is for looks or Shelf Defense. S30V is for work or Self Defense.
You seem to be looking for a work piece. I have the Wave in VG-10, SOB came irresponsibly sharp out of the box. You could shave a speeding rhino bald with it.
 
I would get the S30V, it will hold an edge better. Spyderco Damascus used to be a core of VG10, with the softer damascus pattern layered on top.
 
The Damascus is purely ornamental. If you're not buying it because you think it looks nice, which is a perfectly valid reason to do so, then get the s30v. It's a better steal and cheaper to boot.
 
I love a good Damascus blade as much as the next guy. Maybe more so. How ever it seems as if you are after a knife to carry and use as a knock around everday kind of blade. Am I right? If so, S30v is it. It is my understanding that Spyderco doe s great job with S30v.
 
Damascus is all about aesthetics. Once you've put some use into it, and have had to sharpen it, it will lose its beauty. At which point, its going to be (generally) substandard compared to a standard or especially a particle steel.

I love the look, but the one I had started to get ruined from use (a bear and son fixed). I ended up selling it and getting something more practical. I don't believe in safe queens, except on very rare occasions, such as if I owned a particularly special custom.
 
K.O.D. said:
Damascus is all about aesthetics. Once you've put some use into it, and have had to sharpen it, it will lose its beauty. At which point, its going to be (generally) substandard compared to a standard or especially a particle steel.

I love the look, but the one I had started to get ruined from use (a bear and son fixed). I ended up selling it and getting something more practical. I don't believe in safe queens, except on very rare occasions, such as if I owned a particularly special custom.
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Also highly depends on who made and heat treated the damascus.

"Damascus steel" doesn't really mean anything other than that the blade is a mixture of 2 or more steels.

Could be 2 junk steels....

Could be 2 supersteels.

In the case of Bear and Sons...probably not supersteels.
 
stonesell said:
I would get the S30V, it will hold an edge better. Spyderco Damascus used to be a core of VG10, with the softer damascus pattern layered on top.
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Ding ding ding.

We have a winner.

Spyderco's damascus comes with a VG10 core.



the real question here is:

Do you want looks or performance?

Want looks? Get the Damascus one (VG10 is still a good steel it'll perform just fine.)
Want performance? Get the S30V (doesn't look as nice as the damascus/VG10\damascus laminate but will perform better in most cases.
 
S30V version for a working knife, now at least, and the money you save can go towards a "looker" in the future. The S30V knife will still be cutting like a champ.
 
I'd buy the Damascus, because someone selling an Endura in S30V is selling a fake. ;)

Now I WOULD take the VG-10 or ZDP-189 Endura over the Damascus.
 
The Spyderco Endura is not true Damascus. It is actually a VG-10 solid core with VG-10 and another good steel clad onto the core. It is a Japanese great quality blade. Damascus, rather, is several steels folded together many times.
Also, the Endura does not come in S30V. S30V is an American steel and the Endura is a Japanese knife. If it is an Endura 4 it comes in VG-10, ZDP-189, H1, and the aforementioned VG-10 Damascus.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
I'd buy the Damascus, because someone selling an Endura in S30V is selling a fake. ;)

Now I WOULD take the VG-10 or ZDP-189 Endura over the Damascus.
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Or neither. If they're coming from the same seller I wouldn't trust the Damascus to be real either if they're selling a fake S30v one.
 
Has anyone actually used damascus to cut with?

As mentioned, damascus is a composite of two types of steel, usually of different hardness. I think one of the original benefits to true damascus is that the 2 types made the edge sharper akin to micro serrations. Not unlike today's coated blades with a harder inner steel with a softer outer steel. I think that approach results in a sharper, easier to sharpen edge while retaining it's rigidity.

VG-10 is a good steel. Using it in damascus may produce an even sharper version. I dunno.
 
Anything other than S30V so I guess that leaves Damascus.....

If done right it's not a bad thing, kinda like VG-10 in that it takes a very fine edge, but retention is not very good, and I am being kind.
 
The Spyderco Native 5 anniversary model has a Damasteel blade; believe that is powdered metal damascus.
 
Damascus steels are normally just for looks. I like to use it, its easy to sharpen and wears nicely in my opinion. Without experience or the right tools, S30V can be a bit harder to sharpen, but will retain it's edge better than the Damascus.

Most of my S30V Spydercos chipped, but was somewhat easily fixed. Don't think there is a S30V Endura btw.
 
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