Should I buy a Damascus Skyline?

[dishcore]

I would buy one bud.

I bought one about a month ago for $100 on eBay and at the time was getting a deal! Had I waited I would have saved a bit. No big deal though, I really enjoy it and have some future plans for it to be my super gentleman's blade.

 

[treeshaker]

Please help with answer from Revdevil And Karda

First, my thought is that the term " Damascus" is so widely and incorrectly used it has gotten lost in the knife world. If you have ever owned real, hand rolled/folded Damascus Mr. RD is 1000% correct. It is very strong and will tend to shatter more so than break. And you don't buy actual Damascus in any new knife that does not cost serious money. I say new, because you will sometimes get luck and find an older knife that, the seller is unaware of value. I agree that fence post are most likely not good, but I own some true Damascus knives made from many objects of high carbon. I know because I watched them made, some with over 15 different items. This knife maker also uses various pcs. of cable to produce a wonderful Damascus blade that looks great, but also is super strong and will sharpen to a razor point and hold that edge. I do not understand the point that knives are a bad investment. I have and evidently Karda and many others on BF tripled my investment money in a single year with knives. Not knowing what to buy, or buying what you "Like" can be a hugh problem.

I own at least 30 different company brands in my collection. Lion Steel is just one of them.. What are the "issues" you have seen, Mr RD ? I own both Ti and Alum. I know that Lionsteel like many others uses coatings, and I understand what the coating does or does not do regarding rust. ALL knives simply require and must be maintained and cleaned. This includes lubrication. As often as they are used...And for that matter while in stg. Most quality, blades that will hold an edge, and can be polished, sharpened, or whatever process you use to make cutting easier will rust. I feel the coating will allow the lube to work better, but is not an anti-rust answer. I have learned to read what Mods post and I value that information and place it above other information gathered here. If the Lionsteel knives have issues,, I feel it fair to seek the full story. Mr. Revdevil and Mr Karda your opinions are valued and taken at higher note than the field, no offense field. txs rb

ANY AND ALL COMMENTS ABOVE ARE MY OPINION, MEANING WHAT "I THINK". NO LAB. OR UNIVERSITY TESTING USED FOR BACKUP, HA. SHOULD SPELLING OR GRAMMAR OFFEND, IT MOST LIKELY WILL NOT GET BETTER, SORRY AND THANKS . RB BLACK

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Knives are a bad investment strategy, at least the way i've seen flippers play them out on here and other forums. The exception is unless you have some of the rare older Randall Made Knives, or pieces from master blade smiths that are still living or have since passed on.
I like the Damascus on these knives, it's called random pattern. The billets are made here in the states, from real steel. You will not find any car wheels, frying pan, or fence posts in this Damascus for one thing. I've used the one ai have from the first run, and I beg to differ that it will not perform better than say the 14C28N versions. The steel is completely different, and performance is different.
Nothing against Lionsteel, but the 3 (SR1 and varients) I've seen had some issues. I won't get into it here, but I'll pass on the SR1 for a while. Can't really compare a $55 knife with one that is 6 times that in price either.
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[/QUOTE]

Up until this last run, remnants of the previous run were commanding prices of $100 - $125+.
and people were buying....
When something becomes discontinued, it nearly doubles (or more) in price.
So your statement that it won't rise in value is not only misguided, it's false.

 

[cchu518]

I take it back. The red and blue ones are purdy...get one! Lol that's a good looking knife! I think the plain one looks great but those red scales kick it up a notch!

No way I wouldn't be using it either. I would use the snot out of it too.

 

[mmarkh]

Up until this last run, remnants of the previous run were commanding prices of $100 - $125+.
and people were buying....
When something becomes discontinued, it nearly doubles (or more) in price.
So your statement that it won't rise in value is not only misguided, it's false.

Whatever you say. I still contend knives are a lousy investment. Especially lower end stuff.

 

[Daddyo16]

Whatever you say. I still contend knives are a lousy investment. Especially lower end stuff.

Buying something for $50, then selling it later for $100. That's a 100% ROI. Doesn't sound too lousy to me.

 

[RayzorSharp]

A Damascus anything brings 'exotic-ness' to any knife and $50 for a Damascus Skyline isn't half bad.
I'm not a big fan of the Skyline myself as the overall design looks kind of boring. But with Damascus, it does look sexier.
Problem with any Damascus is rust. I think any Damascus knife is just a collectible; nice to look at, add to the collect, but never/hardly use.

 

[cchu518]

At the end of the day it's a Skyline. It's a manual, it flips great and whether you love or hate it's skinniness it fits great in the pocket. I would arguably put it up there with a Delica or Mini Grip as one of those EDC's that give you a good amount of blade and yet still disappears in the pocket.

 

[benchwarmer380]

Problem with any Damascus is rust. I think any Damascus knife is just a collectible; nice to look at, add to the collect, but never/hardly use.

Just because it may rust isn't a reason not to use it. Browse the Traditional Forum where many folks commonly use carbon steel blades. Take care of your knife and it will take care of you.

The Damascus Skyline works just fine.

 

[simioh]

Just because it may rust isn't a reason not to use it. Browse the Traditional Forum where many folks commonly use carbon steel blades. Take care of your knife and it will take care of you.

The Damascus Skyline works just fine.

:thumbup: When I started getting into knives I was also scared of rust, especially with all the reviews and talks about how rust resistant certain steel is. It doesn't really take much maintenance to keep a knife rust free.

 

[Rasco]

Hope you acted on your impulse.
these are now sold out on BHQ

 

[powernoodle]

Buying something for $50, then selling it later for $100. That's a 100% ROI. Doesn't sound too lousy to me.

Yeah, but that's not an investment - its a gamble. I have a damascus Skyline in my arsenal that I bought a few years ago. Before the current run, it was a seriously sick
and highly coveted knife (among Skyline fans, that is). But the current production run happens, and my coveted damascus Skyline is now just a $55 knife like the many others now being produced.

Kershaw could make this knife a permanent production model for all we know. And then the return on our "investment" would be zero.

So my take on this is that you should buy a knife if you love it and it makes you feel good. If it happens to go up in value, then good for you. But its a gamble. Something like a sprint run Military has a good track record of going up, but even that is no guarantee. Just my take. Rock on.

 

[CJZ]

Hope you acted on your impulse.
these are now sold out on BHQ

kershawguy is still waiting for a shipment according to his thread in the Dealers for sale subforum

 

[kershawguy]

This is good advice.


Also, with my soon to be three LE Skylines, I can make some pretty cool blade swap combos.


(Red and Damascus, anyone?)

You should just buy three or more. Yes it takes pretty much forever for UPS to find it's way to Oregon from Virginia, mine will be here on Friday and I will still have some when others are out, I had a bunch on backorder from the last go around.

 

[CJZ]

You should just buy three or more. Yes it takes pretty much forever for UPS to find it's way to Oregon from Virginia, mine will be here on Friday and I will still have some when others are out, I had a bunch on backorder from the last go around.

Trust me bud, I'm buying one. I'd buy two or three if I could, but funds ATM can only handle one.

 

[dishcore]

You should just buy three or more. Yes it takes pretty much forever for UPS to find it's way to Oregon from Virginia, mine will be here on Friday and I will still have some when others are out, I had a bunch on backorder from the last go around.

Now that's a salesman!

If I didn't have a hoard set aside for the ZT 801CF I'd take you up on that offer, but I can't jeopardize potential ownership of that delicious blade.

 

[JerryIsAlive]

Tempting.

 

[JerryIsAlive]

Temptation wins.

 

[Arugess]

I have a few different Skylines including the bladeforum version; don't have the damascus version yet (en route from BladeHQ). I really like the Skyline as I EDC the regular production version and have a damascus Leek. Absolutely looking forward to getting my hands on the current run damascus Skyline as the Alabama damascus is an excellent regular user steel for most everyday miscellaneous tasks.

When the local brick & mortar store gets some I'm planning on purchasing another (BladeHQ purchase was to ensure that I didn't miss out again on this). For the price, it's a great little knife and the damascus gives it a little extra class; especially around the office.

 

[Daddyo16]

Deleted

 

[mmarkh]

I'm not advocating buying knives as an investment. My point is that buying anything and then selling it for more than you paid for it is a win.

I didn't need an economics class. I just said knives aren't good investments, generally. Now Randalls on the other hand: