Thread: Is this "Buffalo Horn Damascus" Legit?

Hi Guys,

I was browsing and came across this:

$100 Off Buffalo Horn Damascus Straight Razor and Luxury Shave Set - StraightRazors.com

Is this deal too good to be true? It seems a little too cheap for a true Damascus steel blade, any thoughts on the quality or if it is worth buying?

Thanks

Yeah, not a deal.
A real Damascus razor costs much more. You can also use the search function at the top right to look up previous threads on the company.

Quick! Run! Don't look back!

That would be what is referred to as a RSO - a Razor Shaped Object - would be a great letter opener, but a terrible razor.

If you're looking to start off with a straight razor with good quality, that will arrive shave ready, check out the Classifieds here on the website or shop for new at the SRD web store - either one, you can't go wrong.

Welcome to the forum!

I just had a similar razor given to me as a gift. tried to hone it. now i have an expensive/interesting letter opener.

As they say, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. That "razor" fits right into what they say.

its legit...a legitimate POS!! Follow the advice of the others and steer clear

Chris

Guys thank you very much for your guidance! This forum is awesome and full of useful information and really nice people! I really appreciate it!

And if you want to have a straight that's not $100+ , try the whipped dog site

I don't mean to offent any by this but...

When are we going to learn that damascus is some historical steel to witch the recipe was lost in the passing time and what makers today call damascus is actualy a laminated steel from usualy 2 steels with diffrent composition and properties.

One steel is usualy carbon steel that responds to acid etching...thus the pattern.

The oter steel is has a higher corosion resistance/ stainless(nothing is compleatly stainless when it comes to steel and acid) and corodes much less.

These steels are heat welded by forging and bent and twisted in diffrent patterns. The finished product is a blade that has 2 steels in laiers. When etched, the acid removes atoms from the steel, more from the non stainless...one remains shiny the oter dark, the pattern is actualy givem by the diffrence in height of the two steels reflecting the light...

Keep in mind we have a blade made from 2 diffrent steel with diffrent compositions and thus diffrent propertyes like....that's right...
-wear resistance,
-toughness,
-strenght,
-corosion resistance,
-respond diffrent to heat treatment and so on...
None of these conditions aply to a quality honer and shaver in my humble opinion.

I never looked at a damascus edge under the microscope because i don't own one...but i would be curious to see how it looks.

I also know that great master bladesmiths somehow manage to pul of a great blade from this laminated steel they call damascus but they don't come cheap, nor are ther many people wwho work damascus.

IMO using "damascus" as a blade (razor/knife)is a great marketing startegy that gives you less bang for yout $.


Also we have to keep in mind that at the same hardness stainless steel edges outlas carbon steel edges in edge retention through the presence of carbides and are more difficult to hone and get a keen edge harder.

I'm sticking with high carbon, low aloy steel for straight razors for a few reasons:
-ease of sharpening due to fine grain.
-higher hardness with less brittlenes
-keener edges

My 2 cents