damascus steel question

BryFry

BryFry

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Ok, so damascus is very beautiful and I am thinking about maybe adding one or two to my collection.

Pardon my ignorance but are there many differant varieties of damascus, and which ones are the best for every day use, and how do these compaire to other premium steels?

And the kind of "use" I'm thinking of is for an edc pocket knife, or outdoor camping/hunting, maybe light chopping in the case of a bowie knife.

Thanks.
 
Damascus is primarily a aesthetic thing although it may cut slightly bette(or maybe much worse) than its constituent steels, one thing you might want to bear in mind is that it practically doubles the cost (and I suppose resale values) of the knife, especially a larger bowie/camper. I would suggest a Damascus folder because is great conversation piece :D
 
Also, with use the patterned etch on the surface can wear off. You'd need to re-etch to get the pattern back. Etching could theoretically be done with anything from acidic condiments/foods to noxious chemicals.
 
diluted ferric chloride from Radio Shack will restore the etch. Varieties are going to be based on steels used and patterns. If you want something for aesthetics, then focus on getting a clear pattern you like in high contrast mixes. Consider layer counts, whether or not you want mosaics, if you want different colors added to enhance the look, san mai construction, multi-bar, etc.
 
As always performance will be related to type of steel and all the factors included in the making of the knife, everyone has their own special touch. Damascus steel can be made in many forms, making the answer to this question very wide spread.
 
knifenut1013 said:
As always performance will be related to type of steel and all the factors included in the making of the knife, everyone has their own special touch. Damascus steel can be made in many forms, making the answer to this question very wide spread.
Click to expand...

That's kind of what I figured, I was just wondering if there are any makers/manufacturers who make/use a damascus that both looks good and performs well.?

Sounds like most are intended more for looks and collecting, (which is fine) I was just hoping for recomendations on some that can also be good EDC's.
 
My preference is for san mai damascus, with damascus slabs on either side of a premium steel, such as the stuff being used by McCusta, and Kai (for their kitchen knives). I think A. G. Russell is using it in some of his folders, as well.

That way, you get the beauty of the pattern, plus the edge properties of the core steel, VG10 in the above examples.

Alabama damascus is pretty good, for EDC purposes, but I'd buy it from a reputable company like Kershaw or Bear MGC, though. It is a little softer than some, but it will get the job done, and look decent doing it.

William Henry is doing some beautiful work with their knives, offering several different options. Their ZDP-189 core stuff is awesome. I think A. G. Russell is offering this same type of stuff on a limited edition of his one-handed knife.

Once you get into custom makers, the posibilities are endless, and you can end up with very beautiful high performing damascus blades.

Have fun on your search.
 
There are a number of stainless steel damascus makers out there, including Mike Norris, Devin Thomas and also Damasteel, to name a few of the more well known.

There are allot of great patterns and all the knives I own and use have kept their contrast and look super.

I wouldn't hesitate for a second to carry and use a damascus steel knife.
 
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