Thread: Damascus Steel, is it really worth it?

I will end up buying a damascus blade, I just know it...Im a sucker for beauty over function....it really gets me in trouble when I go car shopping...ughhh

The CPM 154cm is almost the same as ATS-34 in makeup and is damned fine steel, particularly for it's super fine grain. I think it's possible there are some steels that might work better, but they're not frequently seen used by blademakers because they are prohibitively hard to get, work and all-in-all just aren't that practical. I think VG-10 might be another good choice - any of the Vanadium steels are likely to be super-fine. There can be constant debate over stainless vs. High carbon, but I think it would be hard to prove that high carbon non-stainless steel will truly outperform the modern steels like ATS-34 or CPM 154 as blade steel.

I have one of the Takeda/Maestro razors that has the high content carbon sandwiched inbetween two layers of carbon and that sucker has whiskers running away from it. It has the Crust Ivory scales and is totally magnificent razor and shaver. I need a cheaper hobby.

Lynn

Fine steel gets mighty expensive. The Japanes sandwiched steels you mention are just outrageous. I had a wonderful chef knife made of that steel and man, oh man, did that stuff ever take an insanely sharp edge. I made the mistake of giving it to my mother, though. She'd never had a really good kitchen knife...... I don't think she ever used it. She always reaches for the same dull crap she's always used. No good deed goes unpunished.

I'm stealing it back next time I visit.

You're lucky... Mine actually used a knife I sharpened for her. She was fortunate that she didn't need any stitches.

Originally Posted by PapaBull

I wouldn't buy a knife that wouldn't cut well no matter how pretty it was or how fine the workmanship.

I don'y know why anyone would. What I said is that I don'y use str8s because they provide the best shave, but for all the other reasons. If all I wanted was the best shave I could get it with Feather blades.

Well I shaved with my Mastro Livi damascus this morning. Is it 5 x $100 better shaver ?..No.

Is it a great shaver..absolutely..as good as my awesome W&B I got from Bill Ellis and I can't expect anything more than that.

It looks beautiful, has a nice weight and to think it was totally hand made adds to the pleasure of the shave. After all, pleasure not a chore is why I use a straight and to hold something so fine that is a work of art makes it all that more enjoyable.

So if you by straights purely for a good shave don't buy one, if you want a great shave with something of absolute quality and workmanship then fork out and buy one.

Gary