Pakistan knives: Are they all junk?

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This is one of those "people work to the standard they're paid for" type things. Occasionally, a Pakistani smith or one of the knife works there will try to do better work, but then they charge higher prices, and then people get nervous because it's a Pakistani knife. Next thing you know, it's back to turning out cheap stuff again.

Heat treat is usually the worst issue. Even the best stuff still seems to have the HT played by eye.
 
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tltt said:
This is one of those "people work to the standard they're paid for" type things. Occasionally, a Pakistani smith or one of the knife works there will try to do better work, but then they charge higher prices, and then people get nervous because it's a Pakistani knife. Next thing you know, it's back to turning out cheap stuff again.

Heat treat is usually the worst issue. Even the best stuff still seems to have the HT played by eye.
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I'm not even sure the steel they use is heat treatable in the first place, the ones I've handled felt more like they were made of structural steel, not high carbon stuff.
 
SwissHeritageCo said:
The reason I'm forever not a fan of Damascus is because of Pakastani blades... I just immediately associate it with cheap tat even though a lot of it isn't.
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You really got to give that book "The Story of Knife Steel" by Dr. Larrin Thomas a read.

I am also not obsessed with Damascus.

However, there's several chapters about the origin of modern Damascus which even if you're not interested in Damascus, it's really intriguing to learn about how it came about into what we all see today.

It gave me a new perspective and more respect for custom knife makers that make the pattern welded Damascus It was especially interesting learning about mosaic damascus and it's origins.
 
DeadboxHero said:
I am also not obsessed with Damascus.
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😂

I really do need to check that book out. I was under the impression it was more of the technical sort, chock full of alchemical details best left to wizards such as yourself.

Sounds objectively interesting; puts the book into perspective. Appreciate the heads up 👍
 
I would assume that most locals in Pakistan will just buy regular low cost knives, mostly made in other countries (China, India, Italy, Thailand etc. ) for daily use. Maybe there is some local manufacturing too.

The knives we tend to see are designed to be ornamental, souvenirs, and I doubt anybody in Pakistan will actually use them.
 
I have a few .. Soft as butter all of them ...
BUTT & it's a huge butt !
Some , when given the right GRIT edge , will perform to price point and maybe a little more ..
It's the same or slightly higher chance you took with Chinese knives 15 / 20 years ago and Japanese knives 50 or so years ago . ( Yes , once upon a time - Made in Japan = Junk )
 
Ugh. That video…let’s sell a bunch of $2 knives for a dollar so you know you got a good deal. Then, let’s throw in a cheap chinese flea market Katana set. People actually fall for that scheme.
 
I haven't bought a Pakistani knife since I was a kid in the late 70s-early 80s. I didn't know better then. I do now.
 
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