Damascus vs. S30V?

Joined
Dec 18, 2009
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I'm sure this has been covered but I'm not finding anything.
The guy who makes the Damascus for CRK says he believes he offers the best Damascus around.
How does the best Damascus compare to S30V?
Is it only for flash or is it a pretty legitimate steel to use on a knife meant to be used, price considerations aside?
Just curious what others think.
 
I've carried both in Large Sebenza for more than a year each, and the Damascus seems to hold it's edge better,and even cut better, to me. Even if it's just perception, it sure looks way cooler!!! Bart1
 
I do not have any direct comparison data, but I would presume that most reports will be based on subjective use and perhaps placebo effect. To that end, the differences in performance are probably quite subtle and depending on the type of use/test performed, neither would be a hands down winner (both steels will be some of the finest examples of blade steel, each with subtle advantages and disadvantages over the other).

Buy what your budget and desire prefers, both will serve you well I am sure.
 
I've been using my Damascus Sebbies for a while now with no real difference whatsoever to my mind. Two examples of successful fair use were; Friday of last week we were busy sorting out items at work and I must have opened several dozen heavy plastic bags with mine (which was Basketweave Damasteel) plus the usual pencil sharpening and cutting of maybe two dozen fine cable ties. At home I used it again, as I always do, in the kitchen with my dinner. It still had a good edge the following day when I sharpened all my used knives because I remarked on that. And the other example is when I prepared some Eels for cooking at home on a wooden chopping board. They are a strong skinned and hard fleshed fish and the blade (which was the Raindrop Damasteel) did just fine - now it was reasonably blunt at the end but I was still happy enough with it.

I couldn't really say for sure if the Damasteel is better or worse than S30V or BG-42. If it is, it's such a small difference that I can't spot the benefit either way - other than in the looks.

For sharpening, I usually set it the exact same way as my other ones - to the red 15° or the black 17° angle on the Edgepro followed by a small secondary edge bevel with the Sharpmaker. Sometimes if the edge doesn't need much attention on the Saturday, I would just strop it with a leather belt and diamond slurry.

Mark
 
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