ok im looking at the kershaw damascus knives and I really like them. heres the question, is the damascus on these knives mainly for the look or is the damascus for performance, ie does it make the steel better?? also what would you compare the damascus to if possible ie 440a,c, s30v etc.etc
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questions about kershaw damascus
- Thread starter loki993
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, and I dont really remember but I think it was 440a. to my surprise 440a is generally considered lower grade and that thing held a razor sharp edge forever.
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2006
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Performance on par with 440A? This is a question I've been wondering and asking about, did some digging on my own. Spoke with Brad Vice at a gun show in Nashville, fairly certain Kershaw uses his Damascus (Alabama Damascus)- here are the typical specs:
(4) layers 5160 (3) layers 203E, (3) layers 52100, (3) layers 15N20 folded 5 times for 416 damascus layers
I don't know about 203E, but 5160, 52100, and 15N20 (similar to L-6) are tremendously popular carbon steels, and with good reason. I am by no means an expert on blade steels, but one thing I do know: Any of these carbon steels will out-perform 440A, along with most other standard stainless steels. How do the perform forged together into a Damascus blade? It's a good question that no one seems to be able to answer (at least not that I've seen). I'd also be curious to know if Kershaw does the heat treat on these blades, I suspect they do (consider this a positive). My 1660DAM will hold an edge way longer than the my 440A Rainbow Leek, no contest. I have a Damascus Shallot on the way, and fully expect it to perform in a manner on par with the tool steels from which it is forged than stainless. My opinion, this Damascus isn't just for looks:thumbup:
(4) layers 5160 (3) layers 203E, (3) layers 52100, (3) layers 15N20 folded 5 times for 416 damascus layers
I don't know about 203E, but 5160, 52100, and 15N20 (similar to L-6) are tremendously popular carbon steels, and with good reason. I am by no means an expert on blade steels, but one thing I do know: Any of these carbon steels will out-perform 440A, along with most other standard stainless steels. How do the perform forged together into a Damascus blade? It's a good question that no one seems to be able to answer (at least not that I've seen). I'd also be curious to know if Kershaw does the heat treat on these blades, I suspect they do (consider this a positive). My 1660DAM will hold an edge way longer than the my 440A Rainbow Leek, no contest. I have a Damascus Shallot on the way, and fully expect it to perform in a manner on par with the tool steels from which it is forged than stainless. My opinion, this Damascus isn't just for looks:thumbup:
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jan 28, 2007
- Messages
- 2,155
Gotta wonder it the performance will vary with what layer or layers end up making up the actual cutting edge of the damascus blade.
Seems like the performance could potentially change as you sharpen it.
Or do the layers of the steel become more homogenous than I am thinking?
Seems like the performance could potentially change as you sharpen it.
Or do the layers of the steel become more homogenous than I am thinking?
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2006
- Messages
- 443
I've wondered the same thing, going to shoot an email off to Brad Vice. If anyone should be able to answer this question it would be the guy that forges the steel. In the meantime, maybe someone form Kershaw could share some insight into the particulars of this steel. I'd tend to think it doesn't meld into a single homogeneous steel. Given most of the steels involved are high carbon types, I wouldn't think the differences in performance (of the differing types) would be noticeable.