Devin Thomas Damascus blade vs. S30V/35VN blade

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ShooterMcgavin

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If the price were the same, and you wanted a "nice looking" edc that would be regularly used, would you choose a Sebenza with a Devin Thomas Damascus blade or the standard blade in S30V/35VN?

I ask because I want to know if people consider the Devin Thomas Damascus to be a step down in performance compared to the S30V/35VN blades.
 
I would choose the s35v blade because I would be more apt to use it. I would be afraid of messing up the damascus blade.
 
It would depend on what you use your edc knife for. If my tasks are breaking down boxes and cutting other heavy duty objects all day I'd take S30V/35VN simply for the fact I'd be less worried about damaging the finish. If it was opening mail, packages, and food work then id have no problem using Damascus. That being said, I have used both for both types of scenarios, and both held up fine, but the Damascus wasn't used everyday for years on end.
 
I have the most experience with S30V and to date, it's my favorite CRK steel. I have sebenzas with S35VN but have yet to use them heavily. I am not a huge fan of BG42 as I find it tough to sharpen, but that's me...... I have also used the DT SS Damascus a lot as well and rank it right there with S30V. Since you said " if the price was the same ", I would probably go with the DT SS Damascus as it looks nicer. Though I have quite a fondness with the stonewashed blades on my large regulars. DT SS Damascus in a plain large regular sebenza would be my Holy Grail...!!!!
 
The Damascus blades are easier to sharpen in my experience, but don't hold an edge quite as long. However, they work well for daily use. I don't think you will really see a performance difference in lighter every day carry.
If price were the same, I would go Damascus because it contrasts well with the titanium.
 
I prefer damascus for looks, and its excellent performance. SS of course. It is not a super steel, but a durable steel nonetheless. The first is a safe queen, the second is a user.


 
If I wanted a "nice looking" edc, then I'd choose the damascus any day. Nothing says wow or that's a nice looking knife like damascus. Especially devins
 
I've been carrying a large with SS Devin Thomas raindrop damascus regularly since 2007. Regularly meaning at least 100 days a year. The finish is as good as the day I got it. I don't beat on it, but I definitely don't baby it. It holds an edge just fine and sharpens easily. If you want a nice looking knife, get the damascus. IMO.
 
Interesting question.
There are Sebies, with inlays, that look perfect with a "polished" blade.
I like to see the "steel" - it makes the thing more a knife.
When preparing food I also prefer a "clean" blade.
red mag
 
At least one manufacturer has solved the dilemma by offering a high performance blade core clad with stainless Damascus. You get the "look" and the performance in one package.
 
I am not a metallurgist; however, on several occasions I've asked knifemakers this same questions -- ignoring aesthetics and judging the modern damascus steels (DT damascus being included in the discussion) against S30V purely on the merits of cutting performance, which is better? The answers have been consistent, and go something like this. Consider the body of facts:
  • Damascus suppliers are typically custom shops, producing comparatively small lots of materials. They don't have the benefit of what large steel production houses have: dedicated process engineers tracking critical factors across large volumes of product running through controlled processes, as well as quality engineers focusing on outgoing quality and executing quality validation testing.
  • Damascus suppliers spend the lion's share of their efforts developing for looks, and know that the vast majority of their product will be used for blades that see no use.
  • Crucible (as well as their peers) throws virtually all of their research funding into improving the cutting performance and material consistency of SxxV, and know that their product will be tested against the practical figures of merit for cutting and used hard in the field.
While damascus blades will hold up to every day use, S30V is far superior at being used as a practical working blade.

These thoughts make sense to me. As with most efforts, "you get what you measure."
 
There seems to be a common misconception that damascus is some how not as useable as the "single type" steels we see used in our favorite knives. I have carried and used damascus knives for a good while now, not just CRKs. IMO you will have a rather hard time proving damascus is less superior to any monosteel blade if it is quality damascus. Infact in my experience carbon damascus is superior to just about any stainless steel purely because carbon steel just performs better. (I know there are some exceptions)
The steels used by Deven Thomas for his stainless damascus are perfectly fine and perform similarly. There is indeed poor quality damascus out there just as there is poor quality steel of any sort. One of the probelms that will make for bad steel is the matching of steels used in a mix for damascus. That has to be done with a base of good knowledge as the steels have to cooperate during heat treating. These things are not a concern for a customer when buying high dollar ABS customs or steel for blades from a maker like Deven Thomas as that knowleadge and skill is exactly what you're paying for. :)

I am having this very argument with a select few individuals here in Taiwan that have an agenda but are claiming a particular individuals damascus is just for show and not usable and questioning performance. I made this knife with that persons damascus and it is one of my most used knives. It performs very well indeed and I can not fault the steel in any way. It is made from carbon damascus and was heat treated under supervision of said maker. These pics were taken yesterday when I was out fishing for the afternoon and there are many more pics of it being used just like this and harder.

This is a nice, nasty sun dried log that was at the side of the river. I chopped at it in a few places looking for knots and other features for a while and it was still able to slice paper cleanly and shave curles off the log. What more do you want ? :p
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Haze said:
IMO you will have a rather hard time proving damascus is less superior to any monosteel blade if it is quality damascus. Infact in my experience carbon damascus is superior to just about any stainless steel purely because carbon steel just performs better. (I know there are some exceptions) [/IMG]
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Great to hear about positive experiences like these. I'd love to see head-to-head test results from damascus and high end monosteel blades comparisons. Has anyone see such studies?
 
Fooj said:
Great to hear about positive experiences like these. I'd love to see head-to-head test results from damascus and high end monosteel blades comparisons. Has anyone see such studies?
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I have never seen much out side of one knife Vs another testing but something involving a number of materials including stainless and carbon damascus would indeed be interesting. We have the "classics" that are well regarded and we know they perform well but we also have stuff a little off the wall too. I would like to see these materials put against each other as well. I imagine the results will be largly what one would expect them to be, but I think we have all learned in one way or another to never take any thing as a given. :p

I know the bigger knife companies that use many steels do the CATRA testing but those results are usually kept under their hat and I have no idea of they have used damascus in those tests, I would expect they have if they use it. It would be a fun project to accumulate some interesting materials including carbon and stainless damascus and test them personally though. I'm not interested in getting onto the inevitable debate on results so "personally" is the key word here. :D:thumbup:
 
Well said. :thumbup:
Such testing and comparison would make an interesting study. The University of Iowa has conducted some research on steels but I am not sure if that includes any of the pattern forge welded Damascus.
One thing I do know though. Devin Thomas is a good guy who fabricates an outstanding product. I have met Devin and he has the same interests as Chris Reeve. Making the best product he possibly can.
 
Haze, that Damascus is very nice and you did a good job of making that knife. I love Damascus, particularly Raindrop, and have several fixed blades, but no CRK folders which use them.
 
Damascus makers have indicated to me that like any steel, damascus is as good as the heat treat. You need to balance the steel types with your heat treat scenario so your heat-treat will work for both types of steel. This takes some level of experience and testing. I am pretty sure CRK and Devin Thomas are wise enough to work out the correct heat treat for the steel.
 
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