Less Expensive Boker Damascus?

[tatfiend]

I note that currently Boker offers some Damascus knives in the under $100 range as listed by some major internet knife stores. Any idea where the damascus is being made and if it is decent blade steel or basically for looks only? In other words are these using Pakistani junk damascus or something that produces an acceptable knife?

Boker "damascus" knives seem to cover a very wide price range.

 

[tatfiend]

Did my own research and came up with the following from Boker's web site:

Are all of your knives manufactured in Germany?
No. Boker USA, Inc. carries several different brand names, which are manufactured in various parts of the world. Please refer to the list below:

■Boker knives: Solingen, Germany
■Boker Arbolito knives: Argentina
■Boker Plus knives: Taiwan and China (except model 02BO012, made in the USA)
■Cinch knives by Boker: Solingen, Germany (except model 11CI403Y, made in Argentina)
■Magnum knives: Taiwan and China
■Marttiini knives: Finland
■Opinel knives: France


As the inexpensive Boker Damascus knives are listed as "Boker Plus" and "Magnum" knives they are from the orient, either China or Taiwan per the Boker web site. Not Pakistani damascus any way.

Anyone want to comment on blade quality of the inexpensive Boker Damascus knives?

 

[tatfiend]

Well I have taken a chance and ordered two inexpensive Boker Damascus knives. The first is the Boker Magnum Lord Knife (3.625" Damascus Plain). This is close in style to the Buck 110 but with steel bolsters and frame. The other is the Boker Plus Stag Damascus 3" blade lockback knife. It has Damascus steel bolsters in addition to the Damascus blade and per the Boker web site it uses 50 layer Damascus steel. Based on the photos a very nice looking knife so I have high hopes.

 

[Alphonse Breaux]

Well I have taken a chance and ordered two inexpensive Boker Damascus knives. The first is the Boker Magnum Lord Knife (3.625" Damascus Plain). This is close in style to the Buck 110 but with steel bolsters and frame. The other is the Boker Plus Stag Damascus 3" blade lockback knife. It has Damascus steel bolsters in addition to the Damascus blade and per the Boker web site it uses 50 layer Damascus steel. Based on the photos a very nice looking knife so I have high hopes.

Please let us know if they look and feel decent; I am also interested in finding one that is not TOO expensive, but also is not junk.
Thanks.

 

[USACelt]

I may be a little late to this conversation, but on the chance you do look back here, I have the Boker Magnum Lord. It is a very well made knife for the money. It has 37 layer damascus and beautiful polished bolsters. The burl wood handles are very nice, giving the knife a very fine appearance, a gentelmens folder. They have 2 more the Gent 1 and Gent 2, the larger is on my list of "gotta gets". sorry to sound like a sales pitch, but I think highly of this blade and think you would too.

 

[bigdh2000]

I ordered my first one (Magnum) for about $50, dropped it the day after I got it and bent the tip of the blade. The next day while hiking, I left it open on top of my backpack, forgot and watched it tumble down a 20' incline...damaged beyond salvage. Called Boker and was told the damage was not covered by warranty. Two month after I bought the first, everyone was selling the same knife for less than $30. Picked up another one which ended up having a rough hinge and voids in the wood handle. Even worse, the blade edge had been sharpened asymmetrically. The cost of the knife (including shipping) was less than I would have spent to go through all the warranty process. In the end I sharpened the knife correctly and fixed the wood handle myself. The hinge is smoothing out with use and I carry it around every so often.

It is a stylish knife but the quality control on this line seems to be lacking right now (or I got a serious set of lemons). The sudden change in price suggests to me that everyone is trying to unload them.

This has been my only experience with Boker and it may very well be my last.

 

[C_Becker]

IMHO you cannot compare the "Magnum" line to the others, Boker basically just buys those from China and sells them under their name, see post #2
While there are a few good knives in that line(I own some myself), the Boker Plus line (and above) are much better.
And you cannot honestly expect them repair a knife under warranty that you threw down (for lack of better words) a mountain side.
There are companies with a no-questions-asked-warranty but it doesn't come for free

 

[Locutus D'Borg]

I bought the Boker "Fellow" with Devin Thomas SS basketweave damascus, and it is gorgeous, some of the best damascus I own. 1072 layers. Made in Soligen, cost $300 plus. A traditional with lock back. I can't post my best photos as Photobucket changed their site once again.

Think I got it from knife center or somewhere like that.