Good knife for a first purchase?

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Hello!

I hope I'm posting in the correct area. I see others have asked similar questions here, so I think I'm safe. :D

So, sometime last year I kind of got really interested in damascus...purely for the aesthetics. I've hinted to the wife about getting a knife with a damascus blade since then and with my recent birthday coming around, she decided to go for it. I've owned some <$30 folders (Gerber/Kershaw) that were pretty much workhorses, but I've really wanted something nice for the past year.

She found a damascus knife with dinosaur bone scales, but the review on the site was pretty poor and she'd rather me get something quality for that kind of money (little did I know, "that kind of money" was nothing in the knife world...wow). So, she just gave me a $150 limit and sent me off to fend for myself.

Long story short, I'd like some recommendations for a <$150 damascus knife, if anyone has the time. I'd like the scales to be something interesting and memorable, because that was her intention. It's definitely got to be a folder, cause I'll be carrying it in my pocket.

I've done some searching around the nets, but it is a bit overwhelming and I'm sure the experts here know some nooks and crannies that don't show up at the top of google search results.


Thanks in advance!
 
I'd recommend a Kershaw Shallot in Damascus. They are beautiful knives and you get real damascus ;)
 
look up Santa Fe Stoneworks, they have a damascus section and work with spyderco and kershaw in damascus, they also have great inlays for the scales and alot of them are within your limit, mines a 4" linerlock damascus with mother of pearl and malachite

heres a link to a review i did of mine, also mine is pretty worn down so dont take that as the initial coloring of the damascus

http://www.youtube.com/user/gamlingcs?feature=mhum#p/u/1/Jx6bKvA4v7I
 
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There are some Case knives with Raindrop Damascus and Sambar Stag that can be had in that range, including the Canoe, Tiny Trapper, and Small Toothpick. If you can stretch the budget a little, there is also the Swayback Jack or other patterns as well.
 
Thanks for the quick responses!

The Shallot does look very nice (as do most of their knives that I've seen). I was hoping for something a little more ornamental on the handle, but when I first set off on this 'adventure' this type of knife is what I had in mind. Will definitely keep it in mind.

After browsing Santa Fe Stoneworks site, I discovered they are the ones who make the knife my wife found (out of dinosaur bone)! Their 4" Liner Lock in Picasso Marble looks really nice, as well. I can't watch your review until I get home, but if you recommend them, then I'll give it another thought. The review my wife found said :

Poor workmanship: the pin showed through one of the bolsters and the blade's core material wasn't centered at the tip of the blade. However, I asked for an exchange because, with better QC, this knife could be a winner....
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I'm not sure if posting the url for other sites is allowed or discouraged here, so I'll just stick with the quote for now. I don't know too much about knives, so I'm not sure if these are real deal breakers.

I'm about to leave the office, I'll be back in a bit.

Thanks again!
 
Kershaw's Damascus knives were the first thing I thought of as well. It's going to be tough to find a well-made, sub-$150 single-blade locking folder with both Damascus and an ornamental handle, since both of those options add to the cost of a knife.

Do you have any interest in traditional knives? If so, Case makes some Damascus-bladed knives that fall within your price range.
 
The Mcusta basic folder is an outstanding damascus clad knife with a VG-10 core & a top shelf fit and finish. Around $135 bucks on the net.

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The Mcusta is a beautiful damascus clad knife with a VG-10 core & a top notch fit and finish. Around $135 bucks on the net.

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neuron said:
It's going to be tough to find a well-made, sub-$150 single-blade locking folder with both Damascus and an ornamental handle, since both of those options add to the cost of a knife.

Do you have any interest in traditional knives? If so, Case makes some Damascus-bladed knives that fall within your price range.
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Yeah, I immediately noticed the prices of things I was looking for could range from expensive to OMG. She got me stuck on ornamental cause she seemed really excited about that bone handle.

I must admit, I prefer the Kershaw and Mcusta stlye (that Boozoo posted), but I'm not against traditional. Two of you have recommended taking a look at Case, so I'll go do that and see what I can find. Thanks!
 
The Mcusta knives were the first to come to my mind also. Take a look at the Tactility series. These are their largest folders with a 3 5/8" blade.

Take a look here www.japaneseknifedirect.com for Mcusta, and also take a look at the Seki-Cut Bob Lum folders in the same damascus with a VG-10 core. The large Lums have a 4.0" blade. All of these look outstanding!


Mcusta Tactility in Corian Handle material

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Seki-Cut large Bob Lum Encounter in cocobolo wood

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One thing that might be worth noting is that the Mcustas (as well as various other "Damascus-look" knives such as the Shun Classic series of kitchen knives) technically aren't Damascus. On real Damascus, the layering goes all the way through, whereas on the Mcustas, Shuns, and so forth there's a core of solid (non-layered) steel clad with layers of steel.

This isn't meant as a knock on Mcusta, Shun, or any other quality maker of Damascus-look knives: my 4" Shun Classic paring knife is my go-to knife in the kitchen, and I've been wanting to add some Mcustas to my collection for quite a while. I just figured I'd point it out for the sake of accuracy. If what attracts you to Damascus is the appearance, then Damascus-look Mcustas would be a great choice. They're beautiful knives, by all accounts extremely well-made, and the steel they use as the core (VG-10) is an excellent one.
 
Just get a damascus Sebenza or Mnandi with wood or bone inlayed handle and tell your wife it was a little over $150 :D
 
rookie4real said:
Just get a damascus Sebenza or Mnandi with wood or bone inlayed handle and tell your wife it was a little over $150 :D
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this made me lol . . . . and then made me want to try it

"Poor workmanship: the pin showed through one of the bolsters and the blade's core material wasn't centered at the tip of the blade. However, I asked for an exchange because, with better QC, this knife could be a winner...."

this is understandable mine didnt happen to come with any problems but it quite possible for the QC problems. however i think you have to consider the fact that it comes with a lifetime "do whatever you want" guarantee and the fact that it is in essence a custom knife for higher end production price

"I'm not sure if posting the url for other sites is allowed or discouraged here, so I'll just stick with the quote for now. I don't know too much about knives, so I'm not sure if these are real deal breakers."

its not that big of a deal, and the part about the VG-10 not being centered is a bit of a problem as that is what you want to be cutting not the ornamental damascus but the fact that he could exchange it is a sign of good faith i think
 
You guys beat me to it on the MCUSTA suggestion. Here's a couple I have had in the past:

MC-13D, African Ebonywood:
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MC-16D, Quincewood:
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MC-41C, Black and Blue Aluminum:
IMG_8126ac.jpg

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Thanks for the further suggestions. I actually really like the looks of the clad damascus blades. How the damascus kind of 'ends' and leaves a distinguished area of the blade....if that makes sense. That Bob Lum looks really nice. That last Mcusta posted by derek has a pretty interesting blade, too.

Thanks for the input on the quality question, brets. I didn't think of warranties. The wife might be happy to hear about it.

If anything, I'll pick a handful of my favorites from you guys and send them to her and that way she is still getting to 'choose'. :D



EDIT: Another, kind of related but unrelated question; Would it be best to buy online or wait for a gun&knife show? I have one coming to my area in early Feb. Thanks, again!
 
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Nothing really at the gun show (Though I did get a gun!).

Heavily leaning towards the Kershaw, now. I think I'm going to contact Santa Fe and see how much, if they'll do it, scales would be for it.
 
+1 on the Mcusta:thumbup: It's a silky smooth knife.
MCUSTAMC55-D.jpg


Kershaw Leek
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And a Case just in case
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Sorry for the crappy pics.:( If you find an extry $50 you can get that new damascus Spydie Delica (orange bone) when it comes out. Good Luck :D
 
I also suggest Mcusta, although technically it's not damascus. Their quality is very hard to beat in your price range--and they don't just stop with a really pretty blade--the handles are really nice too.
 
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