Question about Case's Damascus

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JTR357

JTR357

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Hi everyone,

I'm looking to buy my first Damascus knife.Here it is...

Case Raindrop Damascus Large Texas Toothpick:
CA6054.jpg


I know nothing about Damascus.Is it hard(does it hold an edge well)?Any RC#'s available?Is it flexible(won't snap in half)?Is it easy to sharpen?Will it rust?

Thanks in advance for any useful info you can provide.

Take Care,
 
It's a blend of carbon (1075) and nickel. It will rust if not maintained properly but is easy to sharpen.

For those with interest in Case's damascus, here's a reply I got from Devin and Rob Thomas regarding the steel used for the Case damascus knives:

Elliott, yes the raindrop that we have provided for Case the last 3 years is a carbon steel. It is 1075/nickel mix. 1075 is a spring steel. The nickel content is only to add color to the blade and is about 5% of the total weight. Case has decided to use this because it is easy to blank and the cost is reasonable.

Devin and I will be upgrading our carbon steel for 2009 to 19C5va. It is a carbon steel made specifically for cutlery, it has vanadium in it which will be a better blade steel.

Hope you find the info useful. :cool:
 
I have been using one every day for the past 6 months now. An amber bone stockman in damascus.

The blades are easy to sharpen, and take a great edge. The blade stock is thinner than older Case CV knives of comparable pattern, but I don't own any modern Case CV knives to compare. They are relatively flexible, but I don't pry with my knives so don't have any "torture test" results to share.

Rust is not a problem with even the most basic of normal maintenance. The blade etch acts much like patina on a normal carbon steel blade, and helps protect against rust.

This is definitely a softer steel than modern stainless, which is sort of a two edged sword. You can strop the edge back to life for quite a good while, but the edge is easily turned. I would suggest keeping the bevel slightly more obtuse than you might on another knife. Mine seems to be happy at 40 degrees inclusive, but when I thin it much more than that the edge doesn't last very long.

All in all, they are good knives with good looks. I would try to buy one you can handle, or at least from an online retailer who will actually inspect a few for you. I've found many with scales that have notable gaps between the bone and bolsters.

Final comment, only the blades themselves are damascus. The backsprings are stainless and the liners are brass (no surprise there). I would have preferred damascus or at least carbon/CV backsprings to better "match," but at this price point, I guess we can't expect custom knife features.
 
cortopar said:
I would try to buy one you can handle, or at least from an online retailer who will actually inspect a few for you. I've found many with scales that have notable gaps between the bone and bolsters.
Click to expand...


I'd have to second that recommendation. The only one I have handled and purchased from an online dealer (who had told me he had looked it over at my request) had to be sent back for a variety of fit and finish issues.

Needless to say I was not thrilled and didn't attempt to purchase another. (It was a "47" pattern stockman.)
 
Thanks Blues and Cortopor, that's some great information. I've been eyeing the stag damascus Case is putting out this year. But I'm a user, not a collector, so I think I'll wait until the 2009 batches start rolling out with the improved steel. Again, thanks for the great info! I love this place. :D
 
cortopar said:
I have been using one every day for the past 6 months now. An amber bone stockman in damascus.

The blades are easy to sharpen, and take a great edge. The blade stock is thinner than older Case CV knives of comparable pattern, but I don't own any modern Case CV knives to compare. They are relatively flexible, but I don't pry with my knives so don't have any "torture test" results to share.

Rust is not a problem with even the most basic of normal maintenance. The blade etch acts much like patina on a normal carbon steel blade, and helps protect against rust.

This is definitely a softer steel than modern stainless, which is sort of a two edged sword. You can strop the edge back to life for quite a good while, but the edge is easily turned. I would suggest keeping the bevel slightly more obtuse than you might on another knife. Mine seems to be happy at 40 degrees inclusive, but when I thin it much more than that the edge doesn't last very long.

All in all, they are good knives with good looks. I would try to buy one you can handle, or at least from an online retailer who will actually inspect a few for you. I've found many with scales that have notable gaps between the bone and bolsters.
Final comment, only the blades themselves are damascus. The backsprings are stainless and the liners are brass (no surprise there). I would have preferred damascus or at least carbon/CV backsprings to better "match," but at this price point, I guess we can't expect custom knife features.
Click to expand...


Thanks cortopar:thumbup:

I find the highlighted statements a little disturbing.I would think that Case,of all companies,would have a higher standard of quality control regarding fit & finish.
Also I'm not too crazy about it being a relatively "soft steel":(

I guess things change over the years.I haven't bought a Case knife in almost 20yrs.It was a great knife.A carbon steel maple burl canoe.I gave it to my nephew,not long ago.

Anyway thanks for the "points to ponder",before I run out & buy one.;)

Take Care,
 
hi, although im a collector in this pattern not a user i got one in this model and it was razor sharp out of the box,very impressed with the edge and am looking at either bear or case for a good using damascus knife to try out,this was probably the sharpest knife i ever bought straight out of the box,thanks
 
I've heard about the damascus knives being fairly sharp. Interestingly, the one I mentioned above came with perhaps the dullest edges I've ever had on a Case knife out of the box (and I've had quite a few).
 
I've heard Kershaw's Damascus Leek came pretty dull to a few buyers.That's surprising to me,cause every Kershaw I ever got came shaving sharp OOTB.
 
JTR357 said:
Thanks cortopar:thumbup:

I find the highlighted statements a little disturbing.I would think that Case,of all companies,would have a higher standard of quality control regarding fit & finish.
Also I'm not too crazy about it being a relatively "soft steel":(
Click to expand...

I certainly agree about the fit and finish issues. If they can't produce a bulletproof knife with those materials at that price point, then raise the price. There's never an excuse for shoddy workmanship.

On the steel issue, I'm surprised you feel that way. The whole reason (other than visual preferences) that most people choose CV or 1095 or damascus instead of a modern super-steel like S30V or VG-10 or 154CM is that they don't want an ultra-hard (potentially brittle) steel.

Different strokes, I guess.
 
cortopar said:
I certainly agree about the fit and finish issues. If they can't produce a bulletproof knife with those materials at that price point, then raise the price. There's never an excuse for shoddy workmanship.

On the steel issue, I'm surprised you feel that way. The whole reason (other than visual preferences) that most people choose CV or 1095 or damascus instead of a modern super-steel like S30V or VG-10 or 154CM is that they don't want an ultra-hard (potentially brittle) steel.Different strokes, I guess.
Click to expand...



Like I said earlier,I never had a damascus knife.I have had 1095 & liked it.I just don't want to have to sharpen the knife after every minor use...like 420A for instance.
 
A Mcusta Damascus I have is extremely sharp and durable but I've no idea what type of Damascus the Japanese use.

A Weidmannsheil I have in Damascus is very pretty to look at but it's a thick bulky blade that seems rather too soft. Unusual looker but not really a user in my book, a one off experience but worth having.
 
willgoy said:
A Mcusta Damascus I have is extremely sharp and durable but I've no idea what type of Damascus the Japanese use.
A Weidmannsheil I have in Damascus is very pretty to look at but it's a thick bulky blade that seems rather too soft. Unusual looker but not really a user in my book, a one off experience but worth having.
Click to expand...




Here ya go...."VG-10 stainless core forged with 33 layer nickel damascus blade (RC 59-60)"
 
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