Are these folks quality providers of Damascus steel?
I have seen some damascus blades for 19.95 and less on Ebay and wonder if its Pakistan or China that produces that,I wouldn't touch it.
These folks are american and made here in the states in Alabama.Any good news?

I've seen some knives they made, looked decent for the money, but I can't comment on how good the steel is. In general, my experience with Damascus has been that it looks a helluva lot better than it cuts AND maintains an edge.

I have been using Alabama Damascus for a couple of years now and I highly recommend it. Brad Vice forges the billets and he is very good to work with. He also supplies Damascus for some factory production knives.

His typical Damascus is 416 layers composed of (4) layers 5160 spring steel, (3) layers 203E low carbon high impact High nickel mild steel alloy, (3) layers 52100 ball bearing steel, and (3) layers 15N20 band saw blade material. These 13 layers of 4 types of steel are forge welded and then folded 5 times to achieve 416 layers. The nickel content gives it a beautiful bright pattern.

Thanks guys.I am very new to knife making,I don't sell the knives I make yet but will someday.
I have to get better and don't want to use Pakistani or Chinese steel as they just arn't up to standards.
I may be asking alot of questions at first,blade quality is the first step.Thanks again

Drop-shot:

Go to www.bladeforums.com and you'll find more information and help as well as many other knifemakers. Use the search feature most of the time, you will rarely think of or ask a question which has not been answered already.

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:
I've seen some knives they made, looked decent for the money, but I can't comment on how good the steel is. In general, my experience with Damascus has been that it looks a helluva lot better than it cuts AND maintains an edge.

Modern cutlery steel generally does perform better than Damascus which is why Damascus originally fell out of favor. Damascus usually is a mixture of harder and softer steels. Today it is popular for it's look more than it's performance.

Alabama Damascus performs well. It takes and holds a good edge but there are a number of non-Damascus cutlery steels that will permorm better and hold an edge longer.

could you give us neophytes some examples of these steels?im overwhelmed by the myriad of numbers of steels and how they pertain PRACTICALLY to knife applications.Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by Mike Carter:

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:
I've seen some knives they made, looked decent for the money, but I can't comment on how good the steel is. In general, my experience with Damascus has been that it looks a helluva lot better than it cuts AND maintains an edge.

Modern cutlery steel generally does perform better than Damascus which is why Damascus originally fell out of favor. Damascus usually is a mixture of harder and softer steels. Today it is popular for it's look more than it's performance.

Alabama Damascus performs well. It takes and holds a good edge but there are a number of non-Damascus cutlery steels that will permorm better and hold an edge longer.

Yep! True that.

I'd throw out S 30 V, ATS-34, 440 V as examples of modern homogenous steels that are superior performers IME.

Thanks.that puts some sanity to the mix.

The A.G. Russell website has an excellent section on knife steels. www.agrussell.com

Steve