What does a $15 buffalo horn damascus knife look like?

H

Happy Hippo

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I saw this on the bay and picked it up out of curiosity. It's a buffalo horn, damascus lockback hunter with finger grooves. It comes with a nice leather sheath but a little thin. First, I don't know if it's really buffalo horn. Second, it was shipped drenched in oil - I guess that is better than being rusted on delivery. The blade is one of the dullest I've encountered. They even did file work on the spine and blade. Who knows what the steel is? Lastly, the handle was cracked at a pin location. To be fair, I informed the seller of this and we'll see how they respond. So I am not surprised and it certainly isn't recommended. And I'm sure you are not either but it is a little surprising that this can be delivered with free shipping for $15.
 

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For $15 these days the Pakistanis can put out a pretty fancy looking knife that also doesn't look quite as terrible as their stuff used to.
Is it any more of a knife than they used to put out ? Probably not but I'm sure it looks worthy of display.
 
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Dear Pakistan,

If you focus on creating quality pesh-kabz patterns out of a known and properly tempered steel (please no more "Damascus" please, please, please), you could sell a bunch of knives (and not just to me) and improve your reputation as cutlers globally. Nowhere to go but up!

Yours truly,
birdsbeaks
 
Natural material cracked at a pin?
Nothing unusual. Can (and does) happen to any brand, "inexpensive" to "OUCH!" class spendy.
A drop of super glue worked into the crack with a wood or SAK plastic toothpick will fix the crack to is does not grow or become a chip.

As for the edge (or lack thereof) some claim the factory/maker intentionally does not put an edge on, "so the end user can put an edge on that suits their needs, like in the olden days." (I don't buy that "logic")
 
For $15 I would just super glue the crack, sharpen it up and beat on it. It's probably a crap blade but at least you'll have the classiest looking beater on the block.
 
Can it be sharpened? Some of the cheaper Damascus knives seem to be made out of either mild steel or out of proper steel that hasn't been heat-treated. Curious to know whether you were able to get any kind of edge, and, if so, how well it holds up.
 
Frankly I am shocked at $15 shipped. That is so little money it’s hard to comprehend. Thank you for sharing.
 
birdsbeaks said:
Dear Pakistan,

If you focus on creating quality pesh-kabz patterns out of a known and properly tempered steel (please no more "Damascus" please, please, please), you could sell a bunch of knives (and not just to me) and improve your reputation as cutlers globally. Nowhere to go but up!

Yours truly,
birdsbeaks
Click to expand...
They already sell boatloads of knives.
 
birdsbeaks said:
Dear Pakistan,

If you focus on creating quality pesh-kabz patterns out of a known and properly tempered steel (please no more "Damascus" please, please, please), you could sell a bunch of knives (and not just to me) and improve your reputation as cutlers globally. Nowhere to go but up!

Yours truly,
birdsbeaks
Click to expand...

I agree. Even if they used truck leaf springs. At least then you know it's 5160 or something similar.

I've been looking for traditional pesh kabz knives online for a couple of days now. No luck so far.
 
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