Thread: What's the deal with these Damascus blades??

I wouldnt buy one to test. If hes proud of what he makes and knows theres an interest here, at 40$ hes not out much to send one for free to genererate some sales.

it cant be real damascus steel..the technology and art of true damascus steel working died a long long time ago....but the blades do look good like was said earlier is it folded steel or just some etching? did the guy use cross point screws in the scales??? but it does have my curiosity to know if it will actually take an edge and keep it and be worthy of shaving with

Ah, speculation is fun. I'm a bit skeptical too, but keeping an open mind.

I contacted the seller via ebay, told him the razor had generated some interest on SRP, asked if any are for shaving and which. I told him I was going to try to buy one to test out for actually shaving with.

He requested that I contact him via email and offered to let me try one out free of charge. I emailed him, saying I was going to post the details, be they good or bad, and said I would understand if he wanted to retract his offer. He said it's all good and he will still mail me one free of charge. He also asked me to let him know what kind of improvements, if any, he needs.

So I plan on trying pretty hard to get this thing to take a shaving edge, and I'll keep you guys informed about the process. If I can't, I'll see if any of the more experienced honers want to take a crack at it. For now, we wait.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Ah, speculation is fun. I'm a bit skeptical too, but keeping an open mind.

I contacted the seller via ebay, told him the razor had generated some interest on SRP, asked if any are for shaving and which. I told him I was going to try to buy one to test out for actually shaving with.

He requested that I contact him via email and offered to let me try one out free of charge. I emailed him, saying I was going to post the details, be they good or bad, and said I would understand if he wanted to retract his offer. He said it's all good and he will still mail me one free of charge. He also asked me to let him know what kind of improvements, if any, he needs.

So I plan on trying pretty hard to get this thing to take a shaving edge, and I'll keep you guys informed about the process. If I can't, I'll see if any of the more experienced honers want to take a crack at it. For now, we wait.

I just got online to ask him the same thing; I'm glad I checked this thread first. Now my curiosity is piqued; inquiring minds want to know!

One other thing bothers me, though. There is a fairly well-known knife-making company in Alabama with a very similar name. It just seems like a strange coincidence.

I recieved this email and got the OK to post it here, so:

Hi,Dylan,
I just went to straightrazor.com .I see guys are talking about my razor.mostly are still not sure that my razors can do the shaving or not,let me clear you that.one razor with stag is a knife,I am selling for my friend & all other razors are for shaving use and hardness is 60HRC,next week I am listing razor withh harness 62 HRC,after that all my razors gonna be with 62 HRC & guaranteed to sahve.
Thanks,
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I didn't ask about his name, so I took that out.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

He says that he is the maker of those razors and knives.

I wonder where he makes them , Pakistan or China ?

I can't help but wonder why you guys think he doesn't make them himself. Yes, they look like other razors, both "knockoffs" and customs, but as far as I can tell you are making unsubstantiated guesses that these are knockoffs. I can understand skepticism (I happen to be a very skeptical person and a critical reader), but IMO you should suspend judgment until you have reason to do otherwise.

As I am currently in communication with the guy, I can say that he seems like a stand-up guy and, based on his emails, it does sound to me like he is making them himself.

If I was the seller/maker, I'd be very upset with some of the stuff that's being said in this thread.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

I can't help but wonder why you guys think he doesn't make them himself. Yes, they look like other razors, both "knockoffs" and customs, but as far as I can tell you are making unsubstantiated guesses that these are knockoffs. I can understand skepticism (I happen to be a very skeptical person and a critical reader), but IMO you should suspend judgment until you have reason to do otherwise.

As I am currently in communication with the guy, I can say that he seems like a stand-up guy and, based on his emails, it does sound to me like he is making them himself.

If I was the seller/maker, I'd be very upset with some of the stuff that's being said in this thread.

Do you really think a person would sell hand made (by their own 2 hands , presumably) "Damascus" steel razors for $40 ?

It is important to keep an open mind, I agree with Dylan. I do own a Zowada Damascus steel razor, and am happy with it. I know that Tim forged the steel himself-even saw a great video of him doing it. There is no question about his razors being 100% hand made works of art. Some knife makers purchase billets of high quality steel to make their blades from. Most other knife makers just purchase blade blanks and finish them, putting their own custom scales on. What I wonder is whether these new Damascus razors are made from purchased blade blanks and custom scales, or if the seller actually forges the blades. If the blanks are purchased, the question would be from whom, or from where. Before I would purchase such a razor, I would want to know the answer to those questions.

Originally Posted by Croaker

It is important to keep an open mind, I agree with Dylan. I do own a Zowada Damascus steel razor, and am happy with it. I know that Tim forged the steel himself-even saw a great video of him doing it. There is no question about his razors being 100% hand made works of art.

Would you sell it for $40 ?