Their Damascus is made by their 'Alabama Damascus' shop, also in Jacksonville, Alabama. Kershaw uses them for Damascus blade material. You do need to handpick folders to get a decent fit/finish/operation. I have a pair of 97 pattern - large Buck 110 style - lockback 5" blades. The $52 MSRP ('04 Catalog) 297 is oak scaled - and pedestrian, at best, in it's fit and finish. I had to pick over several at closeout in 'Academy Sports' to find one that would reside near the center of the brass liners when closed. Of course, I didn't check lockup - and it has play. I thought $25 closeout price was fair... until I recalled that a real Buck 110, a work of art in comparison, was less than that there when on sale.
I 'won' a 597D, the 'genuine India stag' handled/Damascus bladed version, on evil-bay for <$50 - a real bargain, I hoped (MSRP $150 '04 Catalog). I was shocked - it came as perfect as any production folder I had seen, with just a bit tight on the lockback release. It followed a Damascus/cocobolo Bowie by a few years - very functional Damascus blade - bargain priced <$100 from that massive knife store near The Smokies. They both came functionally sharp - they would cut thicker paper on a straight push - not cleanly. Far better in a pull, the sawtooth action of the layer edges doing their 'thing' in micro-sawing. The Kershaw Damascus Leek I have, $76 mail order, came with a finer edge - and outperforms the 597D by a wide margin. My best Damascus is my Buck Custom Shop teardrop Damascus 110 - what a beauty - and it works (~$172 9/07).
Night and day difference re that 'custom' 110 vs even the nicer Bear - my 597D. That's sad to me - I wanted to buy from an Alabama source. I suppose RAT Cutlery will have to do... I guess if you want a nicely done US-made slippie, there is always Case - and some Bucks. I recently re-discovered German production - Boker Tree Brand - super.
Stainz
