Does anyone make a reasonably priced Damascus steel folder? ...

C

c_meisenzahl

Joined
Dec 27, 2001
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I only know a little about knives and steels etc. I used to have an SOG fodler and now I carry a Spyderco Meerkat.

I was thinking of getting my dad a small folder w/ Damascus steel. What kind of prices do they start at? Any brands particularly notable?


Thanks very much,

Christopher
 
I don't know enough about Damascus to answer your question, but that's because I avoid that steel, and here's why: That stuff won't preform like other steel, and it usually costs more.

I don't know what you're planning the knife to be used for, but if you want one for cutting, I'd suggest something other than Damascus. It does a good job of looking pretty, though.
 
You can get a small Case (read: classic styled slip joint) folder for a reasonable price. I think they make about 500 of each (oh, ah a limited edition;) of the different styles (stockman, Texas toothpick, doctors knife, etc...) and can be had for well under $100. Do a search on eBay for "Damascus" and have a look.

I have the small Texas Toothpick with jigged bone and a Damascus blade that I haven't had any problems with rust and cuts just fine after I sharpened it (it did come really dull).

Some renaissance wax @$10 a can does wonders for stopping rust and would be something that I would give with any high carbon Damascus knife. Or do a search on the forums for other similar products.

Also as a note, if nobody else mentioned it, there is actually high carbon Damascus (a little more rust) and a lot of people are making stainless steel Damascus that doesn’t have any more of a rust problem that the stainless steel knife in your pocket right now and will probably have better steel than the knife in your pocket so it will cut with out a problem.

And if you really want to spend some money and get something really cool and new take a look at Timascus. It’s a titanium-based Damascus that is now being produced.
 
Parker Edwards used to make a nice range of inexpensive ($50.00+) damascus folders. You can find them on the bay occasionally. Quality is quite good and the price is certainly easy on the pocket.
 
You can go to the Buck site and then to Petes tactical and order a Buck 110 for decent price almost anyway you want it. Delta Z is another to look at . Schrade also. In the custom department how much do you want to spend and then we could give more help . Damascus may not be S30v or 52100 but it will still do the job and will take a mean edge when sharpened right .
 
Originally posted by tom mayo
Mr Goat-You REALLY need to do some research! :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Well I was only basing what I said on what I've heard at various knife forums, perhaps I interpreted what they said inccorectly. I never actually did any research on Damascus because I hate the way it looks. I want my blade to look like metal not a fabrege egg. :grumpy:
 
Well all I am going to add in goats defence is that I was doing some research on dam. blades and what I came up was the reason most manufacturers that make dam. steel dont list a Rockwell scale hardness because they cant accurately tell how hard it is due to the 2 difff types of metals used in the folding. One being softer then the other.. also found out that it isnt a good work type metal to be your workhorse knife. Now all this information I have if from readin variuos sites, talking to techs at Boker and my local hunting and fishing store which carries a few hundred knives for choosing.. If im wrong please enlighten me, I hate to profess bullsh!t.:confused:
 
@TheMightyGoat: No experience and no knowledge, but you answer the question, why?

... and is your avatar really a his own excrement eating smilie?
 
Originally posted by Horus
@TheMightyGoat: No experience and no knowledge, but you answer the question, why?

... and is your avatar really a his own excrement eating smilie?
Click to expand...

Read my second reply.

Yes, that's what my avatar is.
 
Well I will say and maybe I am wrong but the number of knives at the huntin and fishin store do not a knowledgeable place make , or so to speak . Kinda like the local gun store in most towns ( mine included).

Now lets see about some good Damascus makers and these will be just the ones off the top of my near bald head . Walley Hayes ( own three of his and all have been worked ), Mike Norris , stainless or carbon, have also three in his steel by different makers ( one I sold by Snody that would remove digits from your hands in a heart beat ),Little Hen Knives have two by Ron and they are great blades , his own Damascus. Bill Buxton , have not handled his damascus but others say it is the sheenitz. Don Hanson , some awesome stuff . The list is far to long for me at this point. The secret to most any steel is heat treat done properly . Damascus is not a new age wonder steel but it can hold its' own. Now do I carry my serious work knife with a Damascus blade , in a word no . But, do I own several and use them, hell yes and enjoy them greatly. I do believe he said a small folder for his dad so the work horse part I feel is a mute point.

I know I have missed some great Damascus makers here but I just wanted to start the list , if need be I am sure I could list about a hundred .
 
Damascus can make a great steel, seen various combos including O1 and L6, and others. Only ones taht might have problems as a user are ones that use nickel as one of the metals, those I wouldn't invest a lot of money in for a usre unless I had heard someone I trust put them to the test, but have no problem trusting damascus in general for a user.
 
Seriously consider going to the www.agrussell.com web site. If your eye likes what I like then you should like the fine folders offered there. The price is reasonable and the knife is a nice size for the pocket, big enough to use and good looking. it is a slick look back design that is smooth to open and with zero play.

Happy hunting :D
 
Poorly made damascus like any other poorly forged and heat treated steel will have performance issues, but a properly forged damascus with the edge packed correctly makes a high performance edge with a beautiful look.

I have 2 damascus blades and the both outperform my high carbon steel blades, they are a high maintenace steel though.
 
Damascus, Well guy's here is the real deal on the steel, Many Maker's use this steel just for Look's as a couple have stated but the truth in it correctly lies in the heat treat of the steel as well as what steeel's are used to make it . if you want a looker use nickle as a alloy , if you want a using knife try high carbon steel's to make a good blade that can and Should be used ! I don't understand why people think this steel is "Just for look's " the base metal in every piece of damascus i have made yet has been "High Carbon 1095 the same steel used on the Ka-Bar's that were issued to our Marines in WW 2 hold's a great scary sharp edge , the other metal is 15N20 which is American Saw blade steel, Which of these steel's make a bad blade? if i used just one instead of both steel granted there would not be a damascus pattern but would it still be a good blade ? yes you need to take care of it to avoid rust .


Sorry i don't mean to "Rant " I just can't understand this type of thinking :D :)
 
Damascus will be as good as the steels (and metals) used to make it; the steels, and of course the ability of the person that made the damascus. The proper heat must have been used in the making of the damascus. If not there is a chance that some of the layers may end up not getting properly welded. This can cause lot's of problems in a blade including the possibility that pieces will flake off when the blade is being sharpened, and structural weakening. Also, just like any other steel, heat treat is critical in determining the final quality of the damascus blade.

Now , off on a different tangent; Personally, I feel that damascus does not offer value on a user knife. In my opinion, the fact that it is way more expensive than the high end non-stainless carbon steels such as 52100, 5160, 1084, 1095 and O1, that it is no better than, leads me to feel that damascus is used to enhance the appearance of a knife and nothing more. If it can not outperform these other steels, and it costs substantially more, then its only added value is in appearance, not utility.

That being said, I love damascus. It doesn't matter if it is wootz or pattern welded, I think that damascus is worth the premium that you have to pay for it. The reason for my love of damascus; it looks so darn good. Not all patterns appeal to me; some look so downright gaudy to me that I can not appreciate them at all, but give me a nice random, or twist, or Turkish pattern, and I think they add immeasurably to the desirability of a collectable knife.
 
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