Damascus Knives (for you tool makers)

[Nancy_G]

I know nothing about tool making but the new edition (June 2003, Vol 64, Issue 6) of Missouri Conservationist magazine arrived today and it contains a great article on hand forging Damascus steel knives. I checked the magazine's site http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/conmag/
and it's still showing last month's edition, but should change soon. The article has some beautiful photos but I couldn't understand a word.

[Whittlinwit]

Re: Damascus Knives (for you tool makers)

I actually have a Damascus carving knife. Unfortunately, Damascus does not work well for carving due to the layers dragging on the wood. Also, when you sharpen Damascus, you lose some of that beautiful layered look.

[Guest]

Re: Damascus Knives (for you tool makers)

Based on my discussions with knife makers and reading I have learned a little. Some use old guy wire like for power poles. It is built up in the forge by folding over numerous times the molten steel. It was used in early shot gun barrels. Very preety and collectable. I agree as a funtional tool it would be hard to maintain. Note, I do not own one so I am not sure about how they would work in real life. Ask to try before you buy if at a show.

[Captain_Bandaid]

http://www.atar.com .

[whittlinwit]

Re: Damascus Knives (for you tool makers)

Cap't.
Here are a couple sites you might find interesting, (Tom is my nephew).
I taught him everything I know about knifemaking and it didn't even slow him down. He quit a 100,000.00 a year job to be a knifemaker; I think he made the right decision.

http://www.bladegallery.com/knives/maker.asp?code=83&display=Tom+Ferry

http://www.knifeart.com/timchucbyb.html

[Captain_Bandaid]

Re: Damascus Knives (for you tool makers)

WOW! Rick, your nephew makes some incredible knives! And he only has to sell two of those $1000 knives per week to equal his previous salary! Hope he does even better!

[mdallensr]

Re: Damascus Knives (for you tool makers)

I saw a knife-maker in a show last summer, and his specialty was Damascus knives. He also made conventional carving knives. He was a typical carver, and took a lot of time to explain how he made the knives. You can buy the blanks and make your own; knid of pricey but not outrageous. Now I'm going to have to dig up the brochure he gave me on the knives and buying the blanks. BTW, he didn't even pretend to use the Damascus knives for carving, as Cap'n noted. Pretty to look at, but no fun for carving.