Sure thing mate, and thank you too! Your right, it is a very interesting subject with many variations. And, as you said; the skills of the maker are crucial in getting the best out of whichever steel is used. :+1:
Hope you are feeling better my friend…. we missed you. 
Thanks! Here’s some photos. I put 1440 x 1080 embedded and then linked to full original resolution. Not sure how much this will help. That “bald spot” I mentioned appears to be a flaw in the steel folding, whereby there are no Damascus lines to come through. My thought was that it might be interesting to see if the Damascus lines could be revealed on the back end of the knife, but my gut feeling is that it may be too much trouble than it is worth.
^ NOTE — my embedded annotation is no longer valid, as it was later determined that this is not an applique after all. What appears to account for the abrupt end to the pattern is a lump of unfolded steel in the mix.
What’s interesting is that in one of the photos, with the lighting angle, you can see the unintentional “groove” in the surface, revealing that folded steel was indeed used for the composition.
I honed the knife with a good quality honing steel. It brought the edge to true fairly well, but it’s clear the edge angle is rather steep… which means it’s not all that feasible to get a very sharp edge. I’d need to grind it down. I’ve never actually done that in a “good way,” as in my naive days before I knew about honing, I’d use those sharpeners that would mercilessly strip off material. As I understand it now, there are times when it is necessary like removing deep nicks and pitting from the edge first and then follow up with honing. I’m aware that to do it right you need a number of different grades of sharpening stones. I plan to learn the technique eventually, as I have a couple of old candidate knives that are damaged.
Anyway, this cheap Damascus knife cuts OK. I was able to slice a tomato with it and didn’t squish the fruit. It’s a rather heavy knife (which I expect reveals the low cost steel) and perhaps that weight helps with the cutting. It’s only a little larger than my Calphalon Santoku, which is unquestionably a superior knife (it’s easy to paper slice). When looking at the blade edge with a magnifier, it’s so striking to see the edge angle differences. So I really won’t be using this cheap knife for much cutlery work. Only a conversation piece, really.
Teacher.
Thank’s for above amendment of my “description?
of different steel blends. Old age Maybe.
and as you see here.
LOTS of peoples know lots of things about ”lots of things”.
Just a case of bringing the interest out hey.
Apart from the current flu annoyance.
I’ve had this for 30 yrs or more. (June 1990)
I ALWAYS come good again. eventually,
It’s ALL in the drugs mate.
If they ever tested me for Opiates I’d blow the top off the machine.
But b4 this electronic implant in my Spinal Chord in neck.
I was on 4 times as much.
Lived permanently in a floating cloud.
Very rarely came down, and when I did.
just wanted to get back up there quick.
It farkin’ hurt 24/7.
Anybody that knows any family or friends with “chronic pain”
anywhere in body.
Get them to get in touch or read up on net. “NEVRO”
Spinal implants.
THIS ONE. Actually works. with 85% of us.
You have several months of FREE (in Aust anyway) trials first.
MINE 100% NIL pain. around 94% of the time. and when it hic-cups. I just reset on a different cycle for a while.
I’ve gone from a miserable, whinging, full of pain, grump.
to a (almost) normal. Happy. Smiling. Old fart.
Coupla things.
That blade will never be a fine slicer/cutter. Without lots of grinding/
NOT worth it.
I’d take edge back about 1\4 in,and take remove the shoulder too.
with Stones/diamond plates.
and use as a heavy cutter.
Those Damascus lines are Hmmm.
That blade would have to taper from hilt to tip. to give them
In normal folded\layered steel. They going the wrong way.
Be very time consuming to layer that lot in the right way
for that pattern.
Any “bringing out” (That’s available) can be done with acid dipping.
PS. You can not have solid blocks of steel showing
in “folded layers of metal. Sorry mate.
Yrs ago I played with forging Rail Spikes.
Layers of steel hammered into one etc.
Basically All I got was tired arms\shoulders.
Didn’t know enough about steel consistency’s.
(too dumb yes)
Best I had were power saw blades and the aforementioned Rail spikes.
They made GREAT Axe heads.
Lightbringer…
“”Macka17 wrote: Learn to hold a knife and present BACKS of knuckles only. NO TIPS>of pinkies.
Wait… what?“”
———————————-
Cutting food. Read …. Read. (chuckle)
Hold ALL foods you cutting. with finger TIPS folded back.
ALL OF THEM. You wouldn’t be the first to tip the little one.
Just presenting first knuckle and flat backs of fingers for blade to slide up and down against.
Those things ARE sharp.
Holding.
If you hold the knife.in hand. Handle in last 3 pinkies (diddums)
Then thumb and first finger gripping top SIDES of blade.
You will find that a much better. controlling grip (to most)
is established. Especially for slicing. Try it.
Have fun hey.
Thanks for weighing in on this, Mack. I had a feeling it wasn’t much of a cause. I was actually tempted to compensate the seller a little for having given me a full refund, but given the sore lack of quality I won’t do it. I can’t leave feedback, because of the refund. But this just goes to show you, the scam continues. This is junk “Damascus” and he’s getting positive feedback for it. So very unethical. But that’s the game of the swindler—a fool and his money are soon parted. It keeps repeating and repeating. Some people need to learn the hard way, but sadly that means a swindler profits.
Yeah, I’m not going to waste my time with this. I can’t even give it away, let alone sell it. Just wouldn’t be right. Anyway, it’ll be a good test knife for practicing sharpening.
@ xevious
Ok, I see where you are referring to…. the end in front of the handle
Dip a Q-tip in some vinegar & rub it on the end part. See if that brings out the pattern. Keep it off the rest of the blade best as possible.
Let me know. I think that should do it. If not… we’ll go to plan B. 
.
.
I’m sending you a PM…… 
Take that bevel up around another 1\4 in. then grind that shoulder off. Making it even (ish) taper from cutting edge to back of blade
it’s solid enough that if you put a reasonable edge to it.
A good cleaver. chopper. Heavy cutting blade it’ll make.
It’s long enuff, and heavy enuf to do so.
If NOT tip heavy. maybe take a slice off top centre to rear sect of spine
to balance it so.
My Mitchel Engineering (Meatworks commercial supplier here in AUS).
does some similar. Mine. a good. basic steel. Nicely TIP heavy, holds a good sharp edge. and chops through chuck bones like they not there.
And thick. Crusty Dark bread with grains. Like soft butter.
Cost me $11 AUD. now $17 del.
Cheap and nasty but very good 440c steel, (Don’t ever knock it)
It was a top steel for yrs. Still is. Depending who works it.
And professional meatworkers use their steel every day on carcasses
with no problem.
As the steel depends on heat treatment.
The “cutting” edges depend on loong experiences with the stones and steels for best angles. son in law was a pro boner for 40 yrs.
I used to do some boning yrs ago Just to get that experience,
as I was semi-Pro shooting for Roo’s and Buff’s in the top End.
Croc’s (shhhhhh) too. on the side. 6 to 7ft nose to tail got a UNSlitted skin a Grand each Cash… Handbag material. But soooo eay to slice through. as the pressure you had to use to separate skin from fat.
one slice. Value gone.
Shooting those B’s was the best fun though.
Bang. Tween the eye triangle for the brain,
Then blast forward in tinny in dark with grapnels ready.
As the red eye closed and it disappeared in the dark
and the ballast stones they stored in belly took them straight down.
ALl blades. even $3 Chinese “what the F is that” things.
ARE good for something. Utilise it.
Hey Macka17, sorry to hear about your chronic pain woes. Sounds like things are much better now after that spinal implant. But man, must have been tough to get off those opioids. In USA we have a raging epidemic of people getting dangerously hooked on them.
I’m sending Teacher the knife to keep (just minor compensation) so he can play with it and see about improving the edge. I just don’t have that talent (yet…).
Not sure if there’s any rule of thumb about weight, but this one weighs in at 11.75 oz, about 330 gm. The wood is quite decent for the price. I’d have kept it if the blade edge angle was more shallow, so that it would be easier to achieve and maintain a nicely sharp edge.
TS TS25 
He’ll probably belt grind it down then reset a cutting angle.
That “shoulder” has to go though.
Regarding the Poppy’s (chuckle)
I’m NOT off them. Just reduced.
Still have a 25/5 Shoulder Fenpatch every 3 days.
$150 ea on open market apparently….
As if I would.
Plus I take a 5mg Targin every Morn.
or a 10mg if going to do some work.
Pre the implant I was on 50+ mg Targin every day. Plus the Fenpatch 25 Patch.
and I carry a card of Endone “lollies”
for the extra sore times.
NOT off. Just reduced, but makes me human….
After 30+ yrs, I’d have to be a “controlled” druggie.
But the specialists that control my input say NOT so…
Who would know hey.
My pain gone 100% most of time.
I’m not gonna whinge about anything.
Just thankful.
Yep, makes sense. It’s on the way to him—he should have it by Friday, I expect.
Yikes, what a cocktail of meds and pain killers. Anyway, what matters most is that most of the pain is under control and rarely felt, so you can live your life! Just sorry you’re having to deal with these outrageous drug prices. It’s criminal… and our government keeps letting us down. Present situation? They’re profiting even more with this administration. That’s cause people like “the turtle” are in bed with them.
Btw, I got that Damascus folder. You were right — very sweet thing for the price! The action seems to be intentionally “notchy”, that I at first thought was grit. But everything is machined well. Seems to be real Damascus type steel. Very, very clean pattern with nice randomness. The rose wood handles are gorgeous. Really can’t beat it.
Just don’t ever use small. Smooth scales/slim blade knives on blood, wet etc. they alright for cleaning nails,
and eating an apple etc.
It’s Ohhhh So easy to slip and slice pinkies real good.
I was a deckie on North Sea Trawlers of NE Coast of UK back in mid ’50’s.
we gutted every cod in those days to get all meat weight in baskets and no offal (better price at quay).
My left coupla pinkies have a few slices in them from when you can’t feel (frozen)and fish slime everywhere.
Over 3 1\2 to 3 3\4in. Go to fixed blade.
And me. over 5in fixed Maartiini. I use a Balanced
Very sharp, hand axe.
Then chainsaw.
Respect your own flesh and bone. They only come around once.
I dropped a 12\14in Redgum once with 6 Brenecke solids from my Remington Pump and coupla doz belts with my axe.
to control fall. Just to experiment.
Tree had to go… Blocking new trail in private forest.
Benchmade Axis along with a few other items I have on me every day.
“Murdered Out” Spyderco Yojimbo 2
Reminds me of an old fave:
It has a similar pattern on the handle but sizewise the 485 is much smaller.
Yeah, the Shirogorov 111 was always a little on the large side.
I know, I have a G10 version of it. 
You all are an influence on me I don’t know weather its good or bad yet this is the last 30 days
Nice!! But your wallet is now hopelessly screwed christoph…. you have all the symptoms of having been infected with the disease…… :money_mouth_face: :money_mouth_face: …