Damascus Knife Blanks

[Kadnine]

31dPxy4TgsL.jpg (13.06 KiB) Viewed 1428 times

I was unaware before tonight that blanks retailed so cheap! Are these a good deal? Anyone got a line on something cheaper and/or higher quality? I'm looking to carve my first handle soon.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_ ... ife+blanks

- Keith

[Whootsinator]

Damascus is a funny beast. I'm sure you know it has typically two steels. To get a good Damascus steel you need to start with two good steels, but ALSO two steels that work well together. Slapping any two awesome steels together and folding them a bunch doesn't necessarily produce a steel that equals the sum of its parts.

I can't offer specifics, I've just read enough to have an incredibly basic (almost trivial) knowledge of knifemaking and different steels.

As far as the specific listed blank, I wouldn't personally purchase it. It's Damascus, but doesn't say what steels it's made from, it's made in Pakistan, and it's sold by some helmet retailer. I have no desire to buy unknown products or support Pakistan, if I can help it.

[Kadnine]

Yeah, I hear ya. Thanks. I know just enough to be dangerous. There's supposedly a quality Damascus blank producer in... Arkansas? But his prices are no where near this 20 dollar mark.And I'm on a bit of a budget.

- K

[Whootsinator]

If you're just trying to showcase your handmade scales I guess it doesn't matter much... Just try to go with an American maker.

If you're trying to make a whole package to be proud of and use frequently, I would save up a bit. Or, use a non-Damascus steel. 1095 should be cheaper.

The problem you'll run into is that most blanks are produced cheaply for the DIYer that order out of KNIVES MONTHLY or whatever generic magazine they're perusing. That's not to say quality blanks aren't out there though. Many quality blanks that I've found are unfinished... they would require a grinder, file, or sandpaper and time to finish to the point of only needing a handle.

[Whootsinator]

Here's a small Damascus that would fit your readiness requirements perfectly, but again it is SMALL... small means less expensive though.

http://usaknifemaker.com/kit-knives-bla ... ascus.html

15-n-20 is good stuff, as is the 1095 forge welded to it.

[Kadnine]

Nice! I'm looking to start cheap in order to build up a skill set. Eventually I'd like to grind a few showcase knives outta this guy's steel:

http://www.alphaknifesupply.com/damascus.htm

Till then I'm at the bottom rung of the learning ladder. Thanks again. And answer is yes, I'm starting with carving a handle. Thinking either acrylic G 10 style or something more exotic like ebony or even volcanic stone! Steel is less important at this stage in the game. You've been a big help!

-K

[Whootsinator]

AKS's informational pages are GREAT.

In case you haven't seen them: http://www.alphaknifesupply.com/zdata-information.htm

Don't forget to let us know how your projects come along!

[Whootsinator]

I may have found just what you need. Inexpensive finished knife blanks, only needing handles, made in the USA, and of reportedly decent steel. Don't expect miracles out of the steel, especially since I can't figure out what steel it even is. They should be perfect practice for your handle making.

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/list/Item.aspx/453/1

Reviews:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showt ... ver-Knives
http://www.wildwoodsurvival.com/_jthy/v ... =13&t=1115
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showt ... ting-Knife
http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2011/11 ... eview.html


Note: A few people say it's 1095 steel, which would be GREAT, but I can't find anything official.

[Kadnine]

Awesome sauce Whoot! Starting with scales, working my way up to building one of these.

[youtube]HjSACM5kynk[/youtube]

It is a journey. There will indeed be pictures.

- K

[guncrank1]

But wire rope can be made into good damacus blanks
Yes I said wire rope , same stuff that is used to hold up bridges.

[guncrank1]

But I agree with YGG
Cheap price usually means no carbon and unknown steel , no heat treatment so no edge retention.

[Dave1965]

wire rope= also known as CABLE

[son of liberty]

There is only one place to buy steel, from ALDO! http://newjerseysteelbaron.com/

Whoots nailed it.

Look at Scandi blanks, I have never seen a poor quality one yet http://www.thompsonsknives.com/

[guncrank1]

wire rope= also known as CABLE

No I said ROPE not cable.
Specially the material used to hold up bridges and retain cable cars.

Not common cable , like the little safety ties and such

And YES DAVE IT CAN CALLED CABLE

[guncrank1]

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Here better than I can explain

[guncrank1]

There is only one place to buy steel, from ALDO! http://newjerseysteelbaron.com/

Whoots nailed it.

Look at Scandi blanks, I have never seen a poor quality one yet http://www.thompsonsknives.com/

Ok I guess I buy from wrong places
Dang

[BIGC]

I can get 3 or 4 different Mora/Frosts of Sweden blade blanks.. I did have one laying here but don't know what I did with the damn thing...

[BIGC]

Oh and I am not good with Amazon, don't see where it says they are made, but I am pretty sure that those blanks you are looking at are made in Pakistan/Middle East because I can get the same blanks through my distributor...

[Dave1965]

wire rope= also known as CABLE

No I said ROPE not cable.
Specially the material used to hold up bridges and retain cable cars.

Not common cable , like the little safety ties and such

And YES DAVE IT CAN CALLED CABLE

Ok, we change the bridges we build from

Cable-stayed bridge to wire rope bridge
and cable cars to wire rope cars

[guncrank1]

wire rope= also known as CABLE

No I said ROPE not cable.
Specially the material used to hold up bridges and retain cable cars.

Not common cable , like the little safety ties and such

And YES DAVE IT CAN CALLED CABLE

Ok, we change the bridges we build from

Cable-stayed bridge to wire rope bridge
and cable cars to wire rope cars

Ok by me

[fromkentucky]

So K... You ever get that forge going?

[Kadnine]

Not yet. The problem isn't that it's expensive, or hard to make, it's that I live in the burbs in LaGrange, and I don't think the neighborhood association would be cool with me banging away all hammer and tong! You know of anyone in LaGrange with a nice quiet bit of farm woods where we could maybe tackle this project together?

Think about it, could be fun!

- K

[etownguy]

damn you watching that first video spread into 2 hours of watching metal forging videos.. YouTube is the devil I want to go melt aluminum cans now!

[Kadnine]

^^^ Same exact thing happened to me!!

- K

[Jason]

Not yet. The problem isn't that it's expensive, or hard to make, it's that I live in the burbs in LaGrange, and I don't think the neighborhood association would be cool with me banging away all hammer and tong! You know of anyone in LaGrange with a nice quiet bit of farm woods where we could maybe tackle this project together?

Think about it, could be fun!

- K

Just go knock on Gil Hibben's door and ask to use his stuff :p