Does anyone use or EDC a damascus bladed knife?

akadave2

akadave2

Joined
Jun 21, 2008
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Dont get me wrong. I love the look of a well made damascus knife. I also feel that that cosmetics are always secondary to performance. Some makers will put hard homogeneous edge steel in the mix as a core etc. but for the most part contrast is the goal. Do any of you actually carry and use a damascus knife or are they relegated to display? Tell me where Im off...
 
I carried my Skyline damascus yesterday. For me it's just another one of my slim lightweight options like a Chill or BM 530
 
My EDC is a Kershaw Shallot Damascus, and has been for a couple years. Other than an edge curl from a nasty drop onto some marble, it has performed extremely well and I've only stropped it a couple times in these years. The belly's seen the worst of it, but most of the edge still curls paper in cut tests. The Damascus pattern has been matted/muted a bit, but still obviously is the first thing you'd see about the knife when you look at it. Beautiful.
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I use a Phillip Patton damascus scalpel to cut paper and card stock for my mixed media projects. I've only had to strop it.
 
I have a Muller forge small pocket fixed blade. IIRC per maker its L6 and 1095 and around 61RC. The pattern is cool and the giraffe bone handles are pretty. I use it for anything including kitchen and bar duty. I've cut up chicken, sliced garlic, lemons etc.

Being carbon steel it can rust, patina and be shined up. Ren wax is a good protectant and Flitz can shine it and ferric chloride (never tried it) will etch it. It is hard and holds an edge for a long time. I let it patina but sometimes give it a gentle polish to restore a "pretty" look.

If you buy a damascus knife make sure you get it from someone who is experienced and the steel maker has a positive reputation. Not all companies, cutlers or smiths are fully competent with damascus.
 
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I have a CRK large 21 plain jane with a damascus blade that I carry quite often. The scales are starting to look good with the marks and scratches marks on them.
 
I use mine. They get SCARY sharp with ease, and the edge forms micro-serrations, so it cuts like crazy. Well done Damascus is good stuff. For hard use, I use mono steel.
 
Allow me to be the third person to discuss my Kershaw Skyline with a "damascus" blade. I "created" my Franken-Skyline with orange scales, damascus blade, and deep carry clip. I like the way it looks quite a bit, but I only carry it on walks because it weighs nothing. I virtually never carry it outside of that particular context.

If you want to talk quote-unquote "faux-damascus" with a homogeneous steel core clad with other metals, let me be the first to welcome you to the Mcusta Lover's Club. No company does that kind of blade aesthetic better at that price point.
 
Used to carry a Chris Peterson damascus drop-point fixed, but got stupid(again) and sold it. And, as was mentioned, Mcusta does the san-mai VG-10/stainless damascus very well, good quality users. I like mine.
 
Damascus blades hold up just fine to everyday cutting tasks. Put them in your pocket and don't worry.
 
I have carried Damascus steel blades. Mine all cut pretty good. What I ended up ironically not liking is the blade finish. Sure acid etching makes the layers pop out, but it also makes the surface rougher. I like a satin or scotchbrite level finish for actual use. At the end of the day how something performs is more important than its looks, at least to me anyway, so it has become kind of pointless to choose Damascus.
 
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Id have no problem EDC'ing damascus. I entirely planned to carry the skyline i just got in, but it was a bit too small for me. Still love seeing all kinds of damascus.
 
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