Thread: Why are Damascus steel razors so expensive?

A damascus steel is not necessary for an straight razor. Without the aesthetic there is no advantage. But a good made damascus straight razor is also no worse than a carbon steel razor (I dont speak from the cheap trash damascus razors from the -bay). It is not more difficult to hone, if the heat treatment was correct made and the used steels are a good combination for the job. Also with carbon steel razors you can have differents in the honing. Some are easy to sharpen, others not.
You will not have a "micro saw" or softer and harder areas in the edge or other problems wit a right made damascus blade.
If you like the look, have the money and want a special razor - buy one. If you dont like the look, want save a lot of money and want a shave as good, as with the best razors out there, buy a cheap vintage razor and restore it

Originally Posted by Buddel

A damascus steel is not necessary for an straight razor. Without the aesthetic there is no advantage. But a good made damascus straight razor is also no worse than a carbon steel razor (I dont speak from the cheap trash damascus razors from the -bay). It is not more difficult to hone, if the heat treatment was correct made and the used steels are a good combination for the job. Also with carbon steel razors you can have differents in the honing. Some are easy to sharpen, others not.

I agree with this. Certainly there are plenty of non-damascus blades with reputations of being difficult to hone. TIs have long had this reputation, which has been reinforced with their new C135 steel. And the CS Filarmonicas have been noted as bears to hone. The TI damascus blades are much more difficult to hone than their regular razors, but that's because the heat treating left them harder, and they probably contain a higher concentration of hone-resistant iron carbide, and not because they were folded and welded during manufacture.