I just want to pop in here and say, I hear all the time that damascus knives are to pretty to use and that damascus doesn't make for good working knives. Well to that I say poppy cock.
I agree that a knife CAN only be as good as the steel used to make it, but most all your damascus makers use nothing but high carbon steels in their billets. I use 15n20 which is awfully close to the same as L-6, along with 1095,1080,1084 in billet combinations. Now any of these steels alone make for a great knife, so why do people think by combining them, that there user value decreases. If the steel isn't heat treated properly it won't perform to its best ability but that goes for any steel, damascus, plain high carbon or stainless.
I have 2 local people that have given me handle material in trade for damascus blades. I made the knives to their desired sizes and shapes
and told both that these knives are made to use, I assured them if they had any problems with them to just bring them back and I would either replace them or straighten out the problem, scratches, nicks,etc. Just so they would feel comfortable about useing these blades. Its a win, win situation. I get my blades tested and they get knives they always wanted.
Well, this was early last fall, 1 gentleman is a cattle man and hunts a great deal when not looking over his stock. He informed me this winter that his new knife is carried almost every day. He field dressed and skinned 3 whitetail deer with it and it has seen several other every day cutting duties and up to Febuary when I had talked to him last the blade had never needed reshapening. This sounds like a pretty good user to me. The other gentleman is a boat mechanic and a bit more demanding of his knife. He told me just last week that he was totally surprised by the ability of his damascus knife to hold an edge and that he has had several customers want to look it over when he pulls it out to cut something, he said he has had to resharpen his knife 1 time, but it was because he has stripped several wires when rewiring a couple jobs and cut a few things that actually he should have used side cutters for. Sounds like a pretty fair user to me also.
Both men had a complete change of heart about damascus and its ability. Matter of fact both stated that these were the best knives they've ever used.
As for the price difference, sure you can go and buy a blade made from L-6 or 1084 and get the same performance for less money, but there's a lot more time and workmanship involved in making damascus. Its like making kitchen cabinets from Oak or pine, they both perform the same function but the time and material used in one is more demanding to obtain, to make, and requires a higher skill level then just a plain cabinet maker. Now I'm not putting anyone down here, for I've been up this path and still have great volumes to learn. But damascus is another level up on the skill level of knifemaking and should be compensated for, as is knowledgable skills with any job 1 pertakes in.
Man, this little pop in, has become long winded, Sorry. But damascus does make for a good using blade, its not just pretty to look at. One more thing, the addition of nickel into a billet, it was stated you should stay away from those for a working knife, I agree to some extent there, but if the nickel satuated areas stay a reasonable distance from the cutting edge then the blades ability shouldn't be affected. Matter of fact, the way I understand it, by mixing higher carbon powders with powders high in nickel count (2%-4%), carbon migration transforms though the nickel making it a great deal stronger. Therefore depending on the ratio of the mix, possibly like L-6. But I need to do a little more studying on this subject.
Just my .02
Bill
..we totally agree. If I was buying it myself.., 52100, 5160..., and/or the 10-Series would get my vote everytime for a knife I'm going to take-to-task in all domains.
