Danzo
25-03-05, 06:11 PM
Hi folks
Firstly my apologies for the lack of photos but my PC is playing up. I can't seem to link to the original picture in the original 'folding dagger' thread either. As soon as it is sorted I'll get them posted up.
Anyway, if you are reading this you probably know that ancientarms (aka SR) in India posted a picture in maker sales of a very attractive all damacus folder. We decided on a passaround and SR kindly offered to post the knife first and we would pay later. Several things have slowed this first review down for which I apologise to SR and all involved. I'll get a Paypal account sorted today so everyone can pay easily and I can get the cash to SR.
To the knife. The folder is manufactured entirely from damascus steel, blade and handle. It is a classic lockback design with a clip point blade.
The blade is 9cm long, the handle 11cm and the knife opened is a smidgin over 19cm. It is a heavy piece, as you might expect given its all steel construction, weighing in at 166g (5.9oz)
I'm no expert on damascus, in fact I know little about it, but this seems good to me. The patterns in both blade and handle are interesting and nicely etched. There is a very pleasant tactility to the knife and you can make out all the etching with your fingernails
The overall fit and finish seem good to me, for a knife that costs $45.00 including postage from India. The scales are two pieces of damascus steel adjoining the spine lock bit, (wassat called? The middle bit?) and they look cleanly cut and smoothly ground. They fit cleanly on either side. The lock has a smooth action and has an almost seamless fit against the back of the blade. Guycep and Shing both handmake folders and this is something you see in work of their quality. I'm sure we all have cheapo (and not so cheap) lockbacks where there is an annoying gap between the lock/spring/spine bit and the blade. There is cutout on the bottom of the handle about an inch long in a crescent shape which affords a good forefinger grip with the thumb along the spine of the blade.
The handles are held together with three pins and a complaint here is that they protrude. This may be a design feature as the protrusion is uniform on all three on both sides but I would prefer them flush.
The blade has quite a deep belly and a severe clip point, very like a traditional Bowie. However, here is where we do have a slight problem. The blade is best described as 'suitable for sharpening' as it is clearly as yet unsharpened, or even only partially ground. I have raised this with SR and he says ancientarms are able to produce fully sharp knives but India has restrictions on exporting fully sharp blades. If you have a modern Fairbairn Sykes commando knife it is that sort of edge. I believe that supplying knives and swords in this 'ready to sharpen' state was always British military practice so this may have influenced Indian law.
Clearly this will turn quite a few people off but I think it can be remedied and I think it is also important to recognise that not many people are going to want to carry an all steel damascus folding knife as a user. This is essentially a collectors piece, an opportunity to own an interesting and unusual item.
The knife also comes with a black leather belt sheath which looks good and smells even nicer! It comprises two pieces of leather, a larger back piece which also forms the flap and a smaller front piece. The sewing is good and the edges are well finished and heat treated for that nice smooth look and feel. It is well made to my untrained eye, with a decent press stud and the belt loop riveted on to the sheath, not sewn. I don't think you could buy a sheath like this retail for under £8.00 in Britain, and at a Craft Fair you would probably see it on display for £15.00
So, would I buy one? Well for $45.00, including the sheath and delivery, I reckon so. I'm going to wait and see if I win the draw, but to me it's good value for an interesting conversation piece. I would certainly bring it out to show someone as an interesting example of the folder makers art and craft. If I was an American I think that I might take a harsher view though. The weak dollar means us Brits can have this in our greasy paws for about £25.00, which doesn't get us much here in the UK, but our chums across the big water can get a lot for $45.00.
On to Tiffers!
:biggthump
Danzo
Firstly my apologies for the lack of photos but my PC is playing up. I can't seem to link to the original picture in the original 'folding dagger' thread either. As soon as it is sorted I'll get them posted up.
Anyway, if you are reading this you probably know that ancientarms (aka SR) in India posted a picture in maker sales of a very attractive all damacus folder. We decided on a passaround and SR kindly offered to post the knife first and we would pay later. Several things have slowed this first review down for which I apologise to SR and all involved. I'll get a Paypal account sorted today so everyone can pay easily and I can get the cash to SR.
To the knife. The folder is manufactured entirely from damascus steel, blade and handle. It is a classic lockback design with a clip point blade.
The blade is 9cm long, the handle 11cm and the knife opened is a smidgin over 19cm. It is a heavy piece, as you might expect given its all steel construction, weighing in at 166g (5.9oz)
I'm no expert on damascus, in fact I know little about it, but this seems good to me. The patterns in both blade and handle are interesting and nicely etched. There is a very pleasant tactility to the knife and you can make out all the etching with your fingernails
The overall fit and finish seem good to me, for a knife that costs $45.00 including postage from India. The scales are two pieces of damascus steel adjoining the spine lock bit, (wassat called? The middle bit?) and they look cleanly cut and smoothly ground. They fit cleanly on either side. The lock has a smooth action and has an almost seamless fit against the back of the blade. Guycep and Shing both handmake folders and this is something you see in work of their quality. I'm sure we all have cheapo (and not so cheap) lockbacks where there is an annoying gap between the lock/spring/spine bit and the blade. There is cutout on the bottom of the handle about an inch long in a crescent shape which affords a good forefinger grip with the thumb along the spine of the blade.
The handles are held together with three pins and a complaint here is that they protrude. This may be a design feature as the protrusion is uniform on all three on both sides but I would prefer them flush.
The blade has quite a deep belly and a severe clip point, very like a traditional Bowie. However, here is where we do have a slight problem. The blade is best described as 'suitable for sharpening' as it is clearly as yet unsharpened, or even only partially ground. I have raised this with SR and he says ancientarms are able to produce fully sharp knives but India has restrictions on exporting fully sharp blades. If you have a modern Fairbairn Sykes commando knife it is that sort of edge. I believe that supplying knives and swords in this 'ready to sharpen' state was always British military practice so this may have influenced Indian law.
Clearly this will turn quite a few people off but I think it can be remedied and I think it is also important to recognise that not many people are going to want to carry an all steel damascus folding knife as a user. This is essentially a collectors piece, an opportunity to own an interesting and unusual item.
The knife also comes with a black leather belt sheath which looks good and smells even nicer! It comprises two pieces of leather, a larger back piece which also forms the flap and a smaller front piece. The sewing is good and the edges are well finished and heat treated for that nice smooth look and feel. It is well made to my untrained eye, with a decent press stud and the belt loop riveted on to the sheath, not sewn. I don't think you could buy a sheath like this retail for under £8.00 in Britain, and at a Craft Fair you would probably see it on display for £15.00
So, would I buy one? Well for $45.00, including the sheath and delivery, I reckon so. I'm going to wait and see if I win the draw, but to me it's good value for an interesting conversation piece. I would certainly bring it out to show someone as an interesting example of the folder makers art and craft. If I was an American I think that I might take a harsher view though. The weak dollar means us Brits can have this in our greasy paws for about £25.00, which doesn't get us much here in the UK, but our chums across the big water can get a lot for $45.00.
On to Tiffers!
:biggthump
Danzo