Recommendation? Where to buy Damascus?

[Theforerunner]

I'm not set up to even consider making my own Damascus; where would yall recommend that i buy some from online? I usually get my steel from Alpha knife supply but they dont sell just typical 1095/15n20 or whatever. I see a lot of it being sold on like etsy or whatever but i wonder about the quality etc.

Also, as a sub question, what type of damascus should i start working with coming from only having worked with high carbon and stainless up to this point? Something that will be easy to heat treat similarly to say 1095 or 1084 etc.

Thanks.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

The standard mix of 1084 and 15N20 is a god damascus type to work with. HT is basically the same as 1084.Random pattern is one of the lowest in cost and easiest for making a blade from. Twist and Ladder are also a good starter pattern. Many folks start with Alabama Damascus. It is sold in rough size large bars (typically 3X15") and a good deal for the price. Check out Jantz Knife Supply and Texas Knife Supply.
https://knifemaking.com/collections/alabama-damascus

Stainless damascus is a bit harder to work with and etch, but makes good knifes. It is also more expensive.

Almost every knife supplier sells damascus. There are many folks on this forum who make and sell it, too. Check The Exchange to see what is available.

 

[DustinY]

I was going to ask this same question, and what a response. Will look at what’s available here and the above references.

 

[HSC ///]

Randy Haas HHH
http://hhhcustomknives.com/product-category/damascus-billets/

 

[Boatbuilder]

Chad Nichols

 

[DustinY]

The real frustrating thing is damascus tends to be THICK, AND they don’t make wide billets. Everything seems priced for folders as well.

 

[Metalhead0483]

The real frustrating thing is damascus tends to be THICK, AND they don’t make wide billets. Everything seems priced for folders as well.

Alabama sells billets of anything from 3/32' up to 3/16". And their billets are 3x15 as a general rule. That counts as both thin and pretty wide in my book

 

[DustinY]

Alabama sells billets of anything from 3/32' up to 3/16". And their billets are 3x15 as a general rule. That counts as both thin and pretty wide in my book

Yeah, that’s been the best thing I’ve found to fit that mold. Price wise everyone seems to think we all make folders though, tragic.

 

[Theforerunner]

Thanks for all the replies. Wealth of knowledge as usually Stacy.

So pretty much, Damascus is just hella expensive when compared to regular steel, presumably because most people just think it’s just super cool and stuff? Lol. I personally would rather see some rough forged texturing on a blade or blackening from heat treating. Damascus always made me think of those grandpa knives you’d see on the knife channel or at flea markets that have pictures of deer or something on bone handles. I think there’s just a portion of the knife customer demographic that just think that Damascus is the coolest of the cool, and don’t really know why they think that. Likely cause they’re told to by shows like forged in fire etc

 

[Larrin]

Thanks for all the replies. Wealth of knowledge as usually Stacy.

So pretty much, Damascus is just hella expensive when compared to regular steel, presumably because most people just think it’s just super cool and stuff? Lol. I personally would rather see some rough forged texturing on a blade or blackening from heat treating. Damascus always made me think of those grandpa knives you’d see on the knife channel or at flea markets that have pictures of deer or something on bone handles. I think there’s just a portion of the knife customer demographic that just think that Damascus is the coolest of the cool, and don’t really know why they think that. Likely cause they’re told to by shows like forged in fire etc

Damascus steel costs what it does due to materials costs and the many man hours to produce it. It’s a custom product.

 

[Sam Dean]

So pretty much, Damascus is just hella expensive when compared to regular steel, presumably because most people just think it’s just super cool and stuff?

You can get all the Pakistani crap you want, hella cheap, and the quality of the finished product will match... The price goes up with the quality of the materials and maker. There's as much art as there is science to pattern welding steel, and (aside from the learning curve) the equipment and facility to produce a quality product is more expensive than most hobbyists can fathom. High quality damascus will also perform at a level approaching premium mono-steel, giving a good deal of function in addition to the visual aesthetics.

I've used a few pieces of Alabama Damascus. In my opinion, it's the best bang for the buck for someone starting out. I had one billet with a few inclusions and they immediately replaced it. Super nice folks to talk to as well.

Dion Damascus (https://diondamascus.com/) has some pretty amazing stuff from time to time, but I have not used any. Same with Nichols Damascus (https://nicholsdamascus.com/)

These are made from Alabama Damascus:

 

[DustinY]

You can get all the Pakistani crap you want, hella cheap, and the quality of the finished product will match... The price goes up with the quality of the materials and maker. There's as much art as there is science to pattern welding steel, and (aside from the learning curve) the equipment and facility to produce a quality product is more expensive than most hobbyists can fathom. High quality damascus will also perform at a level approaching premium mono-steel, giving a good deal of function in addition to the visual aesthetics.

I've used a few pieces of Alabama Damascus. In my opinion, it's the best bang for the buck for someone starting out. I had one billet with a few inclusions and they immediately replaced it. Super nice folks to talk to as well.

Dion Damascus (https://diondamascus.com/) has some pretty amazing stuff from time to time, but I have not used any. Same with Nichols Damascus (https://nicholsdamascus.com/)

These are made from Alabama Damascus:

Gorgeous work!!

 

[JAGKNIFE]

Agreed on best bang for buck is Alabama check EBAY Alabama sells it on there and also under another name vicecutlery2016 and also two fingers knives makes damascus and sells it in billet form sometimes on EBAY.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Alabama damascus also sells waterjet cut blanks and pre-made blades. Excellent way for a new maker to get started.

 

[Richard338]

My current slow moving project includes three pieces of Devin Thomas damascus and a nice piece of interior mammoth tusk.
Ironically the easiest part to replace if I mess up is the mammoth tusk.

 

[Willie71]

Geoff Flato in Canada is doing Damascus, but is just finishing up his new shop.

It’s fun to make your own, but it’s a lot of work. And expensive if you are setting up a shop. Even if doing it by hand, a good anvil is pricy. I just made a few billets with a converted log splitter press. I’ll be finally making my shop press, seeing the limitations of a 25 ton log splitter press.

 

[Willie71]

Dictum in Germany has a pretty good selection. The carbon steel, non hitachi selection is only good to Rc58/59, so not the best for kitchen knives. They have Damasteel, and hitachi laminates as well.

 

[JTknives]

A little advise from someone that heat treats. I would look at other steel besides alabama Damascus. I have been less then impressed with the blades that I have received that are made from that alloy. I have seen exposed cold shuts, voids and slag inclusions. Some times that heat treat straight and other times thy bow and twist. Their heat treating data page is at best a passable joke.

For a low budget damascus I guess it’s ok but for the work required to really make Damascus pop I would look at something a bit nicer. My buddy Salem sometimes lists billet drops on his IG account but those sell faster then snacks and a pot convention. Geoff makes some nice stuff as well but he is in the process of getting set up at his new shop.

 

[Horsewright]

Gotta disagree. I've made a couple gillzion knives from AD and quite a few from just about any other dammy already mentioned. They all have their little problems and a guy just has to work around em. Just is. Can't say it doesn't work:

Folks that use em keep coming back for more.

 

[JTknives]

I was just expressing what I had seen on the heat treat side of things.