Just wondering if anyone has ever bought any of the Alabama Damascus billets or blanks off of ****? I know most of you make your own but I'm no where near that yet.
Jay
I just realized I may have broke the rules by posting above. If I did let me know and I'm sorry ahead of time.
Jay
Jason, I've used a fair amount of Alabama Damascus and like it. You will need a way to cut it, as it usually comes in a 4"- 5" wide bar of whatever thickness you order.
I've made damascus, but only in a knifemaker's shop who has a power hammer or press. I make no pretense that I made the billet my knife came from and none of my customers have had a problem with that.
Nobody starts out as a master smith and I get a heck of a lot of enjoyment out of forging a blade from a billet which someone else made. It's more fun and I can get a little more ambitious if I'm working with a piece of 5160 than I can with an expensive damascus billet, but the damascus knives sell better.
My only problem is when someone misrepresents his work as being of sole authorship if it isn't.
Just one old man's opinion :)
I'll pick up Alabama scrap pieces at the Blade show as I make a very limited amount of Damascus and only up in Boston. Most of my forging is done in SC. I'll forge the small pieces and many times I'll need to re-weld.