FAQ
What are my blades made of?#
My blades are made from 1084 and 15N20, both high-carbon steels. 15N20 contains nickel which resists against acid etching and becomes the shiny areas of the blade while 1084 becomes the dark areas.
Do I make the damascus?#
Yes, all damascus billets are made by me in my shop. I don't purchase pre-made damascus billets from Amazon or contract with other shops to provide billets. There's no cheap Pakistani damascus here, which is why my blades don't cost $50.
Are my blades usable?#
I strive to make blades that can be used out in the field. They are heat treated and tempered like any proper blade. Can you put them in a display case and only take them out when friends ask about them? Sure. Can you use them on every camping trip you go on? Please do!
How do you take care of your blade?#
I apply carnuba wax to all my blades to enhance contrast and protect against corrosion. Carnuba is a hard wax that melts at 180 degrees which makes it ideal for protecting damascus blades. That being said, store your blade in a dry place when not in use for enhanced protection.
Why do higher layers and patterns cost more?#
Higher layer count knives require repeating the initial process used to create damascus. An initial billet needs to be drawn out, cut up, stacked, and drawn out again. This is repeated until the desired layer count is achieved. Each cut up and drawing out loses a substantial amount of steel as scale.
This also applies to raindrop and ladder patterns in addition to active removal of material to create the patterns. Raindrop requires the drilling of divots along the entire billet while ladder pattern requires grinding deep lines along the billet. In addition to requiring a minimum of 100 layers, a lot of material is lost and must be accounted for.