Thread: Damascus steel

so I took my dovo to work yesterday to show one of the seamen there who is interested in learning to shave like a real man... and one of the petty officers I work with came out to look as well. They loved the designs on the spine and when I mentioned wanting a damascus steel blade one day the PO said they get dull fast and the fact that the steel is folded it creates natural flaws in the edge so while pretty to look at they aren't very practical. Is he right, is there any truth to what he said at all, or was he just talking to make noise and seem smart???

It depends on the craftmanship. The Damascus steel straight razors look awesome and give good shaves just like any other well crafted straight razor. Lots of variables involved in crafting a straight razor and getting a great shave.

Sounds like a lot of noise to me and then some.

Pabster

Let me guess it was some guy who just made PO3 and thinks he knows everything??

Originally Posted by LAsoxfan

Let me guess it was some guy who just made PO3 and thinks he knows everything??

LOL no actually his rate is EN1. so he's been around for a while and he collects knives, but he does seem to "know it all". but what he said went against all I had read about Damascus steel. so I figured I'd ask those of you that know first hand about a DS razor.

I wouldn't know anything about that theory.

The dozen or so I have behave pretty much like my other ones.
They are able to take and maintain an edge just as well as my carbon and stainless razors.

Perhaps he has bought or heard of the "Damascus" blades you can find on ebay?

If I remember correctly, someone on here bought one for testing, and the conclusion was that the blade was pretty much useless as a razor.

Originally Posted by Birnando

If I remember correctly, someone on here bought one for testing, and the conclusion was that the blade was pretty much useless as a razor.

I have 'damascus' razors (actually pattern welded steel) made by Livi, TI, Joe Chandler and Robert Williams and they are all great shavers of the highest quality. They take an edge as well as any high carbon or stainless razor I've shaved with.

There are, OTOH, damascus razors found on ebay and elsewhere , that are cheap imitations made in Pakistan, China , wherever .... these can be found in our "Razors to Avoid" list in the SPR Wiki. If it seems like it is too good to be true, price wise, it definitely is.

It really depends who made the razor. Some of us still chuckle when we remember the story of one big talking knife and razor maker with decades of experience, who sold a damascus razor few years ago only to tell the customer later 'I never said it will shave'. AFIK he still hasn't figured out how to work that metal and is coming up with funky ways around it.

OTOH we have several people on the forum who made perfectly functional damascus razors right from the beginning.

Thanks guys! anyone own any of Tim Zowda's work? I've seen some of his on classicshaving.com

Originally Posted by SmoothcheekStu

Thanks guys! anyone own any of Tim Zowda's work? I've seen some of his on classicshaving.com

Yes, I have a couple Zowada's in damascus steel.
Fantastic craftmanship, and among my very best razors.

Originally Posted by Birnando

Yes, I have a couple Zowada's in damascus steel.
Fantastic craftmanship, and among my very best razors.

ohhh I want one soo bad... but i can't bring myself to pay $800 for a razor quite yet. maybe one day