Is this a Damascus blade?

Turkey Creek Tom · Post by **Turkey Creek Tom** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 7:38 pm

Thanks all ~ for the great answers ~ it's good to know there are so many knowledgable people out there when it comes to knives.
This question look at the picture and tell me is this a Damascus blade? Advertised as such, but I notice the edge is smooth and on the top of the blade it is smooth. It seems that Damascus would have the layers on the top of the blade and even show when sharpened?

justold52 · Post by **justold52** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 11:29 pm

I am going to say NO it is NOT.

You pointed out one real good way to tell .
Does he have other photos of it?
See how he tries real hard to angle the knife to cover up as much as he can!

not for me.

ButchTN · Post by **ButchTN** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 1:06 am

It looks like very poor quality real damascus to me. If it was just etched to look like damascus it would cover the whole blade. That is just my opinion but I could be wrong.

Butch

ButchTN · Post by **ButchTN** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 1:10 am

It looks like very poor quality real damascus to me. If it was just etched to look like damascus it would cover the whole blade. That is just my opinion but I could be wrong.

Butch

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 1:30 am

There are a few cutlery companies that etched blades in acid for a Damascus look. For carbon steel they used Ferric Chloride or occasionally Aqua Regia. For stainless steel they would use either Aqua Regia or hydroflouric acid (hydroflouric acid is very nasty to work with, it does not burn like most acids, you only feel pain once the acid begins to etch the calcium out of your bones).

Aqua Regia is a combinaton of equal parts Nitric Acid and Hydrochloric Acid. Many use muriatic acid in place of Hydrochloric Acid, muriatic acid is cut Hydrochloric Acid, same stuff you put in your swimming pool. Through the use of these chemicals and others, a damascus look can be achieved. Wax or even nail polish can be used to make patterns in the steel also. There are many ways to fake damascus steel. Almost all real damascus steel is etched with acid to enhance the pattern in the steel, not to create it.

e3ck · Post by **e3ck** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 2:21 am

It's hard for me to tell without realy looking at it. The top being totally smooth leaves some question though. However the pattern not extending to the edge is easily and often done in real damascus. This is done by sandwiching a single bar of steel between two bars of damascus and forging the three togeather. When the blade is ground this type of effect occurs.I hope to start forging on a Bowie next week that I've been wanting to do for some time with a simular effect.

Hukk · Post by **Hukk** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 4:14 am

Here is an example of an acid etched blade that is not Damascus, it has the Damascus "look".

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rough-Rider-Damascu ... dZViewItem