A handy pocket knife is one of those things we EDCers love to collect. Some zero in on their favorite material, like titanium or wood handles, others might collect knives from their favorite designer. But for many enthusiasts, knives with a damascus blade and their distinct wave pattern are a prized part of their collection. While they’re stunningly beautiful knives, they shouldn’t be thought of as just display pieces — they’re capable tools in their own right. In this guide, we’ll explain what makes a Damascus knife so special and list some great options worth a spot in your collection.
What is a Damascus knife?
While you might see a knife proudly featuring a Damascus steel blade, it’s worth mentioning that Damascus steel isn’t actually a specific kind of steel at all. Rather, it refers to the process of forging different steels together to form a single blade, which you can see in its characteristic wavy, layered pattern.
They get their name from the ancient knives and swords forged in the Near East. They exhibited extraordinary strength, sharpness, and durability for their time. Unfortunately, history has long since forgotten the original process of making them.
The modern Damascus blades you can purchase today are not archaeological artifacts. Bladesmiths mix excellent blade steels like VG-10 and more to make these knives. So while they aren’t exactly historical, they’ll perform well and hold a great edge. And unlike the blades of old, they usually have the modern features you want in a good everyday carry knife.
Damascus steel knives are sometimes referred to and marketed as pattern-welded steel knives. Beware of knives that aren’t actually Damascus and only have lines etched or painted on. If it isn’t different steels welded together, it isn’t actually Damascus. Here are 8 examples of knives with a Damascus blade.
Spyderco Endura 4 Titanium Damascus
The Endura 4 is a classic EDC blade, and Spyderco has put out a Damascus variant of the knife to celebrate its longevity and popularity. The sub-4” blade is made out of DPS 15, a Japanese stainless steel mixed with VG-10. The handle is also special, made out of 6AL4V titanium, and it holds the blade in shape with a lockback mechanism.
SOG Arcitech Damascus
The Arcitech is a classy knife in its own right, but with a Damascus blade and carbon fiber handle it’s on a different level. It has a 3.5” clip point blade made out of a Japanese mix of VG-10 and nickel. It’s been acid-etched to emphasize the 15 layers in the blade.
Boker Plus Damascus Gent 1
The Gent 1 features a stunning 3.25” Damascus steel drop point blade with 67 layers. It’s a beautiful knife that has a discreet and classy element when closed because of its ebony wood handle.
Victorinox Swiss Army Outrider Damast
This is not your grandfather’s Swiss Army knife, but it can be your own heirloom to pass on in the future. The limited edition Outrider Damast features a 4.4” blade with 115 layers of steel welded together. It also features 10 useful EDC features including a pair of scissors, numerous screwdrivers, and bottle and can openers.
Kershaw Damascus Chive
The standard Kershaw Chive is an EDC favorite, and this one is made even better now that it features a ladder-patterned Damascus blade. This version also includes a frame lock to complement the blazing fast SpeedSafe assisted flipper opening of the knife.
Mcusta MC-16D
This Japanese knife marries the elegant VG-10 core Damascus steel aesthetic with a refined quince wood grain handle. This combination makes for an attractive modern gent’s knife.
ESEE Damascus Izula
If you’re looking for a fixed blade, the Damascus Izula is for you. It has the same lightweight minimalist skeletonized construction of the regular knife, but this one’s been forged out of a single piece of Damascus steel.
Do you like the idea of Damascus steel on your EDC blade? Whether it’s for the looks or the performance, let us know in a comment below.
