new damascus knife

[dodd3]

i got this damascus knife its Made in Pakistan by knife maker Ahmad Khokhar from DAMASCUS STEEL CORP HIS COMPANY WAS ESTABLISHED BY HIS GRANDFATHER MORE THAN 40 YEARS AGO THEY SPECIALIZE IN ANCIENT WEAPON,ARMOURY AND KNIFE MAKING.i gave it the hemp rope test it cut through a 10mm pice of hemp rope 7 times before it started to dull up then i gave it a few licks on my diamond rod and it was shaving sharp again,these are the specs of the knife,
272 layer random pattern 4mm damascus carbon billet made in Pakistan. Tempered to 56-57 RH (1085/15N25 mix),i took of the paka wood scales off and put some nice american black walnut scales on it and cover that finger ring as well and chainged the handle shape a little,its 9-1/8" oal and the blade is 5-1/8",i paid $59.90 ozy for it pluss postage as it had some scratches on the blade,the sheath is very good qualty as well which is a bargin i think what do ya reckon.
bernie 

[tn_junk]

I have a couple of Pakistani damascus blades I am delaying putting scales on because I just ain't sure of the quality of the steel. The raw blades cost me $15 each, and have a couple of obvious flaws. For me to finish them out to a finished knife, and make any money at all, I would have to sell the knife for about $75, including sheath. A good, USA made damascus blank would cost me at least $75, just for the blank.
I know it's just not politically correct to be "prejudiced" against foreign materials, but it worries me. There are some very fine knife blade makers in the US making Damascus, one right up near where Bill (graybeard) lives. I fear that these made in Pakastani, and made in India, Damascus blades will undercut the US makers and further drive the custom knife making business down. I know that I am getting roughly 25% less for my knives than a year ago, and I am making only very basic, $25 knives. Not the expensive, good quality, US made Damascus stuff that goes for $250 plus.
It is a very nice knife, and I really like your decision to replace the pakkawood with real wood. Looks really good. 

alan

[pastorp]

dodd, I must agree with alan. The handle looks great. I like the look of damascus but have never owned one or even used one. Let us know how the knife holds up over time.  thats the real test. Regards,

[Joel]

Only 7 cuts through roughly 3/8 inch line ain't a whole lot.  Sounds like they were overly optimistic about their Rc...something a LOT of companies, foreign and domestic, are.  I've made one knife out of a damascus blade I bought from Damascus USA. The blade itself was made in Pakistan.  It was so soft that I couldn't put any kind of edge on it.  I gave it to the customer as a wall hanger.