Quality damascus kitchen knife blank set

[Erik6868]

I am looking to get a decent set of kitchen knives would like to do handles myself. Having trouble finding something to order that I have confidence in. Could someone recommend someplace. Thanks in advance.
Want to buy 2we 6- 8 piece sets don't want to spend crazy money defiantly want to do handles myself just don't know good place to get decent sets

 

[BladeCommander]

Zhen has some knife blanks that I have used on many occasions. They seem to be pretty good. Not the thinnest knives, but they come in Damascus clad VG10 at like 60+ hrc hardness and seem to perform quite well.

Jantz supply also has Damascus clad VG10 blanks without bolsters if you don't like metal bolsters. Zhen seems to have a more Western profile with Jantz having slightly more Japanese shape, but Zhen has a larger selection of blades.

Lastly, and probably the highest quality option would be to get a few Damascus knives with Black Western Handles and just drill out the rivets and replace the handles. Its a little more work to remove the stock handle, but I think you will get a better donor blade that way. I have done a Damascus Hattori knife this way and it turned out awesome.

Hattori


Zhen


Slightly modified blade (AUS 10 non-Damascus)

 

[Erik6868]

The Hattori knives you recommended are really beautiful, I don't think I could bring myself tocut the handle off they are pretty. The zhen knives look ok but I read some bad reviews are they really that bad in your opinion my daughter is really into cooking and would like to get her something lasting I could customize. I am a nondestructive testing engineer so I have a strong metals background I can perform the hardness treats as well as XRF on the blades. Heck even have electron microscope ii could play with would be fun. Go full geek on them.