Price of pattern welded steel

I have NO IDEA where that comes from!
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I have heard the same thing more than once as well. I guess there are other methods around that take less time, but I am sure, will not produce the same finishing results you get.

What I have seen around, generally, is sanding up to 400-600 grits, deep etching and hand sanding to 800 grits. But it most makers don´t spend more time in this process than they spend in hand sanding from 400 up to 1200 grits to a really good satin finish.

Jeff Velasco
 
I fully understand that there are factors that go into determining the cost of pattern welded steel. I guess it's just that different makers calculate the value of those factors differently. It just surprised me to find that at least one maker charges no upcharge, while some charge a rather substantial one, even for basic patterns.
 
I too have heard from makers who do exquisitely finished carbon blades say the same thing about finishing carbon blades vs pattern welded. Plain old carbon steel blades will show imperfections in your finish much more readily than pattern-welded ones. The pattern will help hide imperfections.

There was a collector at the recent Blade show who had on display his collection of MS carbon hunters, at least a dozen if memory serves. I got a chance to talk to him and he said he collected carbon hunters because the carbon blades are what show the fit and finish of a knife. Among the hunters in his display case you can certainly tell which MS did finer fit and finish, at least for these samples anyway. Having them there side by side I suddenly could see differences that I wouldn't have seen as easily if I were to walk around to different tables. The collector pointed out subtle flaws in the lesser hunters—acceptable in MS work, but not up to par with the best work.
 
As a knifemaker I'd hate to quote prices on mosaic damascus knives. It seem like lots of ways for a fly to get in the soup in the process. As far as the simple patterns, I'd have no problem paying a few hundred extra for random, twist, ladder. I assume makers of the simpler paterns lose a billit every now and again and should get payed for the extra time and risk. Anything over a few hundred bucks extra for simple pattern damascus and I think your paying for more than a makers time and knowledge. That said, I don't own much damascus because I haven't found many makers who feel the same way I do about the matter.
 
Pattern welded steel should cost more if forged in the summer and less if forged in the winter months :)

There are many variables in the way makers price their knives. Maybe this guy would rather make damascus blades, so he prices them the same, hoping for more damascus orders.

For what it's worth, I spend much more time finishing a carbon blade with hamon than I do a damascus blade. But in the long run, I will have a little more time in a damascus blade.
 
I'm one of the guys who spends a lot more time finishing carbon steel blades. In fact I haven't yet done a finish on a carbon blade I was completely happy with. It all depends on what you're going for.
 
There's also the danger factor. It can be scary seeing makers cutting, folding and hammering that red hot steel. I would add a points or two on to the overall knife cost just for the hazard factor. :eek:
 
The maker saw this thread and contacted me to let me know that he usually does charge more for pattern welded steel, but because he wants to try a new pattern, and this knife would be a showcase for that steel, he offered to do it for me for the same price as the carbon steel.

As I stated in earlier posts, I have no problem paying more for pattern welded steel, but this reminded me of earlier thoughts I had about why there seemed to be such a big discrepancy in pricing between different makers.
 
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