Need to move to Damascus eventually...where and what to buy?

Patrice Lemée

Patrice Lemée

Joined
Aug 13, 2002
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I realize that this is a step that I will have to make soon and making my own Damascus, as much as I would like to, is not possible for for many years still. :( So where do you guys buy your Damascus? Big suppliers or individual makers? What am I looking for as far as grades/prices are concerned for entry level. I am starting so I can't justify going to the high end stuff right away but I don't want to buy crap either.

Any light you could shed on the subject would be greatly appreciated.
 
I generally buy from individual makers. I'm fortunate in that a local store sells billets from a couple of good makers. If you want to check out a subset of what they have, go to bladegallery.com.

I also buy off the exchange, when available.

I have received a billet of Alabama Damascus, but haven't used it. The good news is that it came with heat treat instructions.

I've tried a billet from Jantz and was not impressed... it worked, but it wasn't as good as the previous billets I bought. The good news here is that it was much cheaper.
 
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I bought a piece from Dan Seaver a few years ago from the exchange and it was very good and easy to work with. The last piece I bought was from Alabama Damascus and it too was very good.. in price, size and ease of working. They were very good to deal with as well. I sent a couple of emails and they were very quick to respond. I don't see why making it should be that far away for you, Patrice, I'm pretty sure you already have the skill needed.. hell, I'm even going to try it this spring, I bought the steel from Aldo already :-D
 
Patrice, stop in chat tonight and chat with Delbert- he makes some geat stuff and is a few hrs from me.
 
Chad Nichols Damascus is some good stuff and reasonable prices. Chad is also a really nice guy. He has a wesite and also sells through Texas Knifemakers Supply.
 
Thanks Sean, I'll will be in chat tonight and look for Del.

Thanks for all the links guys, some good looking stuff there.
 
Alabama Damascus is where I get mine, they're super good to deal with, and use good steels in their billets. I've never had any problem with delamination or anything with them either
 
I have several different sources for damascus. Kevin Cashen, Delbert Ealy, Dan Seaver, Nick Wheeler, just to name a few.
 
One of the problems with answering questions like this is that you run the risk of becoming exposed to work that triggers a deep desire to do something equally imaginative. Realizing that it is FAR beyond my abilities to weld together pieces of damascus, I sure would like to run across a billet that lets me do work like this:

Complex.jpg
 
Thanks for all the recommendations. I think I am have enough to get me started, well except money of course. :(;)
 
Patrice, I have some Alabama left over from my last one, I can send you some if you want. It's a large billet so I can cut to size if need be.
 
one thing to remember tho is depending on use you might wantto stear clear of dammy bars that have pure nickel in it

for me cause of making razors and kitchen knives with fine edges i cant use any of the steel that has pure nickel in it caus eof it not hardening
 
tryppyr said:
One of the problems with answering questions like this is that you run the risk of becoming exposed to work that triggers a deep desire to do something equally imaginative. Realizing that it is FAR beyond my abilities to weld together pieces of damascus, I sure would like to run across a billet that lets me do work like this:

Complex.jpg
Click to expand...
A blade like that is likely forged to shape, so you wouldn't be able to do that with a straight billet.
 
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