I’m glad to see some interest in Damascus steel knives as of late. I’ve played with blacksmithing off and on for years and find it very satisfying but have never delved into the fine art of mixing and folding steel. I do however appreciate the end result whether it be a centuries old katana worth as much as my work car or a fine old home forged skinner. So I collect them.
Recently I made a few discoveries online that I think are definitely worth the scratch, and it ain’t much. $40-70 per knife has opened my eyes to a completely different source and I’m making it work for me. No regret at all yet.
I got these in today and wanted to share. They are indeed full tang Damascus steel, no welded tangs. The steel types are listed in description when buying. They are authentic and advertise a Rockwell hardness of 58-60. These are made by Perkin, I believe Pakistan or somewhere else in the Middle East (camel bone handle on some models is a giveaway) but don’t seem to be lacking in quality whatsoever. Even the leather sheaths are of higher quality than the cost suggests. Very thick leather and heavy stitching, quality hardware, all oiled and ready for service. There is nothing ‘rough’ about these knives and I think anyone who’s bought a Pakistan knife can relate to what I mean by rough. The edges all appear machined, no grind marks or interruptions in the edge where Hobeeb might have slipped. And they are sharp. At the most I may swing them on the leather a few licks but I don’t see much room for improvement once a blade reaches razor level and will easily shave your arm baby smooth.
The boot knife pictured has a perfectly cut blade with a true centerline and both edges looking very symmetrical and equally sharp. The edges on all three of these look perfect all the way to the point. They all feel tight and trim but have a nice heft to them. Like a good piece of steel should.
I ordered these from Amazon but I found the Perkin website and did some research. They tout that they’re based in the UK but the ‘About Us’ story reads like a Chinese or Middle eastern email scam. They apparently have a custom knife service where you can send images and they will forge the blade for you. 4-5 weeks I believe I saw for turnaround but it may be less.
Also while searching on Amazon I saw several blades ready for handles and finish work at good prices.
I bought a couple of the Boker Kalashnikovs in Damascus when I saw them and that’s the first time I got anything of the sort that wasn’t considered custom or small forge type steel and was surprised at the lower cost. I’d always paid way more and rightly so when you consider the work and finesse involved. But I can’t say anything negative about these knives, especially for what they cost. I have a few more coming from different companies (I’m assuming they’re different) and I’ll post pics when they arrive.
I figure I’ll irritate at least one collector with this thread, but before you judge, just know that I’ve bought and traded for some nice high end stuff too, but can’t knock these for any reason. I imagine they probably aren’t forged using the same steel or process, but I can’t argue about how authentic they are when I’m holding it in my hand.
Post up your Damascus and any good sources, local or camel bone!
I
Recently I made a few discoveries online that I think are definitely worth the scratch, and it ain’t much. $40-70 per knife has opened my eyes to a completely different source and I’m making it work for me. No regret at all yet.
I got these in today and wanted to share. They are indeed full tang Damascus steel, no welded tangs. The steel types are listed in description when buying. They are authentic and advertise a Rockwell hardness of 58-60. These are made by Perkin, I believe Pakistan or somewhere else in the Middle East (camel bone handle on some models is a giveaway) but don’t seem to be lacking in quality whatsoever. Even the leather sheaths are of higher quality than the cost suggests. Very thick leather and heavy stitching, quality hardware, all oiled and ready for service. There is nothing ‘rough’ about these knives and I think anyone who’s bought a Pakistan knife can relate to what I mean by rough. The edges all appear machined, no grind marks or interruptions in the edge where Hobeeb might have slipped. And they are sharp. At the most I may swing them on the leather a few licks but I don’t see much room for improvement once a blade reaches razor level and will easily shave your arm baby smooth.
The boot knife pictured has a perfectly cut blade with a true centerline and both edges looking very symmetrical and equally sharp. The edges on all three of these look perfect all the way to the point. They all feel tight and trim but have a nice heft to them. Like a good piece of steel should.
I ordered these from Amazon but I found the Perkin website and did some research. They tout that they’re based in the UK but the ‘About Us’ story reads like a Chinese or Middle eastern email scam. They apparently have a custom knife service where you can send images and they will forge the blade for you. 4-5 weeks I believe I saw for turnaround but it may be less.
Also while searching on Amazon I saw several blades ready for handles and finish work at good prices.
I bought a couple of the Boker Kalashnikovs in Damascus when I saw them and that’s the first time I got anything of the sort that wasn’t considered custom or small forge type steel and was surprised at the lower cost. I’d always paid way more and rightly so when you consider the work and finesse involved. But I can’t say anything negative about these knives, especially for what they cost. I have a few more coming from different companies (I’m assuming they’re different) and I’ll post pics when they arrive.
I figure I’ll irritate at least one collector with this thread, but before you judge, just know that I’ve bought and traded for some nice high end stuff too, but can’t knock these for any reason. I imagine they probably aren’t forged using the same steel or process, but I can’t argue about how authentic they are when I’m holding it in my hand.
Post up your Damascus and any good sources, local or camel bone!
I
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