Real or Fake Damascus?

[Wolfie]

bought a 3.5 inch blade knife for $40, probably made in India, based on who seller is

question, looking at the blade, the Damascus "wavy pattern" is only on the part of the blade which extends from the handle. The steel sandwiched between the wood handle is plain steel and doesn't exhibit the swirly pattern.

unfortunately I don't have images to share.

if this is "real" Damascus steel, wouldn't the way pattern appear on all of the steel of the knife?

Thanks for answering my ignorant question.

[argel55]

Only if it was etched the same as the blade. Some makers put the handles on and grind it down to a polished surface. If it is then not etched will have the polished look.

[Wolfie]

Ok, thanks.

[jimmontg]

India made knives will also have plain steel welded onto the Damascus blade, indeed some USA made ones do too. Look at some of the Damascus blades sold by Sheffield Knife Supply. I made 4 Damascus blades and welded a 1/4-20 bolt onto the stub tang, but they are hidden tangs, if making a full tang I would think about making the tang out of plain steel, but would probably make it all Damascus. I have never made a full tang damascus blade btw, waste of damascus.

[bladeenthusiast]

What do I have here...Fake or Real?





Thanks in advance.

Blade Enthusiast.

[jimmontg]

Looks like the etch got messed up, polish the blade off and re-etch with apple cider vinegar for a couple of days watching it to make sure it gets done well. Then polish off with some steel wool. It would cost more to put a fake damascus finish on than to actually make cheap damascus unless you can peel some plating or something else like paint off of there.

[M&J]

Late to this party, reminds me of a guitar swirl paint job.

[Crex]

Actually looks more like a patching filler weld to cover/repair a bad cold shut. Notice the other two spatter spots near the repair - They don't "present" anywhere else in the pics shown. They just didn't think the smaller crater on the other side was worth the effort, so must have been a significant hole they fixed. Re-etching probably won't show anything diff.