Why is the new damascus so different?

BBQ BOY

BBQ BOY

Joined
Feb 24, 2009
Messages
2,820
In all the years I have been buying, collecting and using damascus, I have never noticed any other companies damascus taking such a turn in this area.I will be brutal here, but its simply awful. First, the colors got MUCH lighter, but the actual designs stayed the same. Now, the damascus is soup and sandwich.
 
I never understood why they changed the Raindrop so drastically. The old school pattern IMO is gorgeous. The new design looks like someone messed it up lol
 
IIRC, what you are talking about is the switch from carbon damascus to stainless damascus.
 
Older Damascus which looks amazing. Smooth lines and high contrast



Newer Damascus which has very shaky lines and faint contrast



(not my pictures)

I see what you are saying and have wondered the same thing. I love CRK and love their Damascus but the older patterns were much nicer. This in no way is to knock CRK.
 
Wow that is quite a difference, thanks for sharing that! Looks like that one skipped the final quality control step...
 
Top pic posted I believe is carbon damascus (high contrast) and bottom is of course, stainless.

It's important to remember that the damascus is made by Devin Thomas Damascus,..not CRK.
 
There are not many players in the SS Damascus game from what I know. I heard rumours that Devin had suffered some health issues and the Damascus was now being made by a family member or helper. Don't know if this is true or just a good story. Maybe someone can chime in with the facts. Anyways.....that was the explanation I recall for the drop in perceived perfection or pattern regularity. Sounds like something mainly out of CRKs hands unfortunately, unless they found another supplier.
 
kidcongo said:
There are not many players in the SS Damascus game from what I know.
Click to expand...

Well. At least not hundrets of them :-) But there are a few. Although I cannot judge whether they are matching CRK's expectations, whether in terms of quality, quantity or commercially. Chad Nichols is out there, providing the damascus for Lionsteel:

https://images.knifecenter.com/thumb/1500x1500/knifecenter/lionsteel/images/LNTS1DRGMnb.jpg

Also Mike Norris is making stainless damascus blades, for instance for William Henry (and this is "raindrop" by the way):

WH, B12 Shade, 08

As already mentioned above, there is an visible difference between stainless and non stainless damascus. But we have seen also a transition period where they did coating at stainless damascus blades, which provides a darker, nicer look, if you know what I mean. On the right it is coated stainless damascus. On the left without coating:

21, Plain Titanium, Dot Matrix, 08

But I think most of todays critiques are addressed to the current "raindrop" pattern, which does not look any more like raindrops, but just like "a rill of tears" :-) and that has nothing to do with stainless or non stainless. Even among stainless raindrop pattern blades there are differences:

21, Mammoth Ivory, Raindrop, 15

and by direct comparison I think everybody agrees that they haven't developed the raindrop pattern for the better .....

Stefan
 
Great thread. I like the newer pattern , as it can have the appearance of a Japanese sword "Hamon" my absolute favorite edge look!
 
bhyde said:
Top pic posted I believe is carbon damascus (high contrast) and bottom is of course, stainless.

It's important to remember that the damascus is made by Devin Thomas Damascus,..not CRK.
Click to expand...

I think what they meant is the raindrop Damascus from a year or so ago compared to what is being offered now. Both are stainless DT Damascus, but the newer is quite a bit different than what was offered up until somewhat recently. I do not like the newest version myself and will not be buying any. I even passed on a really nice mammoth with this Damascus a few months ago because it had this newest Damascus. I believe Lone Wolfe ended up with it and I believe she posted a thread about the different Damascus raindrop now being used.
 
nyefmaker said:
I think what they meant is the raindrop Damascus from a year or so ago compared to what is being offered now. Both are stainless DT Damascus, but the newer is quite a bit different than what was offered up until somewhat recently. I do not like the newest version myself and will not be buying any. I even passed on a really nice mammoth with this Damascus a few months ago because it had this newest Damascus. I believe Lone Wolfe ended up with it and I believe she posted a thread about the different Damascus raindrop now being used.
Click to expand...

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...n-My-Blade-The-Evolution-of-Raindrop-Damascus
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top