Questions about damascus

[Uath]

I just bought a damascus blade from Smokey Mtn. Knife Works. It is advertised as a "genuine damascus steel blade." I know that there are a lot of acid-etched imitation damascus. The knife is a Celtic Warrior. I like it, but I want to make sure it's real folded steel. How do I tell the difference?

 

[Nickf1000]

Quickest and easiest way I've found - by the price tag!

 

[Andrew Taylor]

Put the blade edge down on a metal plate and pound the back of a blade with a 6 lb sledge hammer. If the blade delaminates, it is damascus

 

[Boozoo Chavis]

Well it says "genuine damascus" construction and since SMKW has been in the knife business since the early 70's so I would tend to believe the ad. Of course being genuine damascus doesn't mean it's a high quality product.

I would guess the damacus in the celtic warrior is similar to the damascus used in Bear MGC knives-which from what I've seen is along the lines of AUS-6, in terms of taking and holding an edge.

 

[Lucky Bob]

I just bought a damascus blade from Smokey Mtn. Knife Works. It is advertised as a "genuine damascus steel blade." I know that there are a lot of acid-etched imitation damascus. The knife is a Celtic Warrior. I like it, but I want to make sure it's real folded steel. How do I tell the difference?

The chances of it being "real" (wootz) damascus are slim and none. That I know of, every modern maker uses laminate damascus, of varying compositions.