Thanks Rab Gordon

**Joe Gondek** · 10th October 07, 06:37 PM

I took advantage of the special that Rab Gordon has on blade components and placed an order for some Damascus blades and a piece of bog oak.

This what I odered

Now I have not dealt with Rab before and I don't know how he knew I was MUIR (a sept of the Gordon) but this is what I recieved in the mail

I Can't express how surprised I was,
The quality of the blades and wood were first rate and the extras included are above anything I've ever experienced.
I don't know if he treats all his customers this way but I wil be not be buying Damascus blades any where else.

I've also been treated above all expections in a trade with Robin and all I can say is:

THE DEALERS ON THIS BOARD ARE THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!

**McMurdo** · 10th October 07, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by Joe Gondek

I took advantage of the special that Rab Gordon has on blade components and placed an order for some Damascus blades and a piece of bog oak.

This what I odered

Now I have not dealt with Rab before and I don't know how he knew I was MUIR (a sept of the Gordon) but this is what I recieved in the mail

I Can't express how surprised I was,
The quality of the blades and wood were first rate and the extras included are above anything I've ever experienced.
I don't know if he treats all his customers this way but I wil be not be buying Damascus blades any where else.

I've also been treated above all expections in a trade with Robin and all I can say is:

THE DEALERS ON THIS BOARD ARE THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!

I hope this helps, and yes Rab is very good to deal with.

**Archangel** · 10th October 07, 06:48 PM

Can the blades be hardened?

I've got some damascus blanks here that look real nice but I can't get a decent rockwell out of it.

No confusion, my blanks did not come from Rab.

**Rab Gordon** · 11th October 07, 02:35 AM

Hi Joe,
It's always a pleasure doing business with the folks here.
I trust that you enjoy making your Sgian Dubhs and look forward to seeing the results.

Rab

**Rab Gordon** · 11th October 07, 03:02 AM

Hi,

I find that the hardness of these blade blanks which are probably from the same or similar source to those carried by AC, etc. can't really be improved that much from the state that they arrive in.
That may be quite low compared to modern knife steels but probably on a par with readily obtainable steels of a few hundred years ago.
However, they can take a very reasonable cutting edge but it just needs to be maintained and resharpened after some use.
Having tried a few approaches to shaping and sharpening these I have found that a slack belt grinder working through coarse to fine grits followed up by a leather belt with polishing compound gives a strong convex edge of reasonable sharpness which seems to complement the steel well (although I can get an initially sharper edge using a diamond hone on a jig).

For high performance Damascus blades I make my own from bars of Swedish Damasteel but they cost several times as much !

Rab

Originally Posted by Archangel

Can the blades be hardened?
I've got some damascus blanks here that look real nice but I can't get a decent rockwell out of it.
No confusion, my blanks did not come from Rab.

Raptor · 11th October 07, 05:27 AM

Nice score Joe. I've been looking at those blades of Rab's also (just need to get more financial!) I also found him helpful, more than happy to impart advice, & a genuinely nice guy.