is damascus just for show?

S

SkaerE

Joined
Sep 9, 2001
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428
or does it have some utilitarian value as well? seems using nickel would make the steel not as usable? (folks do add nickel and other metals to damascus right?)

seems i read somewhere :) that in the real old days some damascus was very good for a usable blade (something to do with carbides or some such...) its been a long time since i read it ;)
 
This is MY Opinion !! I Think that Damascus is Great Steel !! it will Flex More than Other Steel if Made Correctly , THe Edge holding is Good to Great , and each Bar is Unique , the different Steel that is Put into the Damascus Bar Affect's How the Damascus will Perform!! Many People Do Not Realize This But to Make 2 1/2 Feet of Quality Damascus Takes About 25-30 Feet of " Ordinary" Steel !! I have Found Several Times that a Piece of Damascus Could Not even Be Drilled with Solid Carbide Drill Bit's After the Heat Treating !! So in My Opinion Yea it is Great Stuff!!






http://www.pinoyknife.com
 
Damascus is a great steel for a user knife. You are right about the nickel though. It doesnt do anything for the steel except it just looks cool. It does act as a separator to prevent carbon migration from a high carbon layers to low carbon layers and will give a jagged toothy edge. The American Bladesmith Society requires a damascus knife to pass a chopping, shaving and bending test for Master Smith rating. Ask me how I know.
 
Now days Most Damascus is definately a very good user,Most people use 15N20 and something else and this keeps the carbon content up and thus makes for a great cutting edge.If using low and high carbon steels I feel that the layer count should be no less than 300 layers but with all high carbon you can make the lower layer and thus bolder patterns in the steel.
So yes it is great to use.
Bruce
 
Can be good can be bad, no definates. If you are using very similar steels, however, you really just end up with a less pure steel. Never significantly better than modern monosteel, but does have the possibility of being much worse. WAY too many factors to say "yes" or "no". I say its mostly just for show(noone can guarantee good results everytime, ya know), and thats fine as knives can be functional art anyway.

Joe Renner
 
I have a knife with a damascus blade made by Corbin Newcome that will keep an edge and cut better than any knife I own.I know nothing about the blades composition but with proper sharpening it will skin and butcher a moose with out being touched up.It takes a little more care than a stainles blade but it is worth it.
Chuck
 
The only time I have come across damascus with a soft balde is one maker I know who only made art knives for purely show. He would not heat treat them. I have since convinced him to heat treat anyway for most knives. The current owner may want to sell one day.
I like to think all my knives can be used not just looked at even if that is what is intended for them.
 
AKIVORY,
Its cool to know you have one of Corbin Newcomes knives, Corbin makes a high quality knife and is a heck of a nice guy. He's been to my shop and I've been to his several times, will probably be going back to his in a couple weeks. He and Ron Duncan (goes by magnum on the forum)share the same shop and I consider them both good friends, Ron's been working with Corbin for several years know and he makes a fantastic knife too.
Back to the topic, I have been making knives for close to 11 yrs. but damascus for only about 9 months, but I test all my knives, plain high carbon and damascus the same.I use nothing but high carbon mixes 15n20 + 1084 or 1095 or L-6 which is awfully close to 15n20, and they are much more then just a pretty knife, all my knives are made to use. I resently received word from a neighbor that I traded a damascus hunter to for some antler, he told me at the time it was to pretty to use, I insisted it was made to be used and if he used it and messed it up I would make it like new again if needed. Well, he used it this deer season on 3 deer that he and his boy had taken and he told me it is the best knife he has ever owned, this guy is a mountain man type, uses a knife a great deal. So he knows knives.

Bill
 
I believe Bill Moran's original reason for re-developing/discovering damascus in the early seventies, was to produce a blade that combined the toughness of a mild steel with the cutting ability (and all that entails) of high carbon steel. He reasoned, what if one layered the two...
To me it's just great looking blade (and handle) material, that depends on the contents as to it's potential cutting ability.
 
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