Damascus Knives

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A Damascus knife is made from two or more steels forge-welded into one bar and folded until the layers show as a pattern on the blade. Ours are 288 layers of 15N20 and 1080 steel, and the pattern runs right through the metal rather than being etched onto the surface. Eleven knives here, from an 8 inch karambit to the 14 inch Patriot, each handcrafted and each with its own leather sheath.

Which one is right for me?

Your first Damascus knife Predator Hunter Damascus Hunting Knife, Wa...The Predator Hunter, our patented shape, 10 inches with a 5 inch blade. See this one You want the most blade Patriot Damascus Hunting Knife with Leathe...14 inches overall with a 9 inch blade, full tang, crossguard on both sides. See this one You want something compact Karambit Desert Fox Damascus Knife with Le...8 inches overall with a curved 3.5 inch blade and a finger ring, 5.5 oz. See this one You like a lighter handle Predator Hunter Damascus Hunting Knife, Ol...The same Predator Hunter with an olive wood handle. See this one

Shop all Damascus knives

Predator Hunter Damascus Knife, Walnut handle with its leather sheath
-19%
Predator Hunter Damascus Hunting Knife, Walnut Handle
$64.99 USD
$79.99 USD
Karambit Desert Fox Damascus Hunting Knife with its leather sheath
-25%
Karambit Desert Fox Damascus Knife with Leather Sheath
$59.99 USD
$79.99 USD
Raptor Damascus Hunting Knife with its leather sheath
-35%
Raptor Damascus Hunting Knife with Leather Sheath
$64.99 USD
$99.99 USD
Deer Hunter Damascus Knife with its leather sheath
-13%
Deer Hunter Damascus Hunting Knife with Leather Sheath
$69.99 USD
$79.99 USD
Patriot Damascus Hunting Knife with its leather sheath
-20%
Patriot Damascus Hunting Knife with Leather Sheath
$79.99 USD
$99.99 USD
Bear Hunter Damascus Hunting Knife with its leather sheath
-31%
Bear Hunter Damascus Hunting Knife with Leather Sheath
$54.99 USD
$79.99 USD
Beast Hunter Damascus Hunting Knife with its leather sheath
-13%
Beast Hunter Damascus Hunting Knife with Leather Sheath
$69.99 USD
$79.99 USD
Tracker Damascus Hunting Knife with its leather sheath
-19%
Tracker Damascus Hunting Knife with Leather Sheath
$64.99 USD
$79.99 USD
Wild Tiger Damascus Hunting Knife with its leather sheath
-25%
Wild Tiger Damascus Hunting Knife with Leather Sheath
$59.99 USD
$79.99 USD
Leopard Hunter Damascus Knife with its leather sheath
Leopard Hunter Damascus Hunting Knife with Leather Sheath
$79.99 USD
Predator Hunter Damascus Knife, Olive handle with its leather sheath
Predator Hunter Damascus Hunting Knife, Olive Wood Handle
$79.99 USD

What is Damascus steel?

Modern Damascus is pattern-welded steel. Two steels with different amounts of nickel and carbon are stacked, heated, forge-welded into one bar and folded, again and again, until the bar holds hundreds of thin layers. When the finished blade is etched, the two steels take the etch differently and the layers show up as the pattern.

Why 15N20 and 1080?

It is the classic pairing. 15N20 carries nickel and stays bright after etching, and 1080 is a plain high-carbon steel that goes dark. Put 288 layers of the two together and you get strong contrast between the light and dark bands, which is what makes the pattern easy to read from across a table.

Real Damascus or etched?

A cheap Damascus-look knife is a single steel with the pattern printed or laser-etched on top. It wears off and it stops at the surface. Pattern-welded Damascus is layered all the way through, so the pattern follows the grind right down to the edge, and every blade comes out a little different. That is the only kind we sell.

Does Damascus rust?

It can. 1080 is a carbon steel and carbon steel rusts if it is put away wet. Dry the blade after use and wipe on a thin coat of oil, and the steel will stay bright. Never store the knife in its sheath while either is damp.

Which Damascus knife should I choose?

Start with the size of the job. The 10 inch hunters, with 5 inch blades, cover most work outdoors. The Leopard Hunter, the Raptor and the Patriot give you 7 to 9 inch blades for bigger jobs at camp. The Tracker has a serrated spine and Micarta scales, and the Karambit Desert Fox is the compact one, with a curved 3.5 inch blade and a finger ring.

Frequently asked

How many layers are in a Bigcat Damascus blade?

288 layers of 15N20 and 1080 steel, forge-welded and folded into one bar.

Is every blade pattern the same?

No. The pattern comes out of the folding and the grind, so every blade is slightly different from the photos and from every other blade. That is how you can tell real pattern-welded Damascus from a printed pattern.

Are these knives handmade?

Yes. Every Bigcat knife is handcrafted, not made on a factory line.

Will the pattern wear off?

No. The pattern is in the steel itself, not on the surface. Sharpening and use will not remove it, although a heavily worn blade may need a fresh etch to bring the contrast back up.

How do I care for a Damascus knife?

Keep it dry and lightly oiled. Wipe the blade after use, dry it, and put a thin coat of oil on before storing. Let the leather sheath dry too before the knife goes back in.

What warranty comes with the knife?

12 months against defects in workmanship and materials, on every knife.

Keep exploring

Predator Hunter Damascus knife with an olive wood handle on a leather workbench beside stitching tools
Handmade Knives
Wild Tiger Damascus knife in an open wooden presentation box
Collector Knives
Deer Hunter Damascus hunting knife and its leather sheath on a frosted log in an autumn forest
Hunting Knives
Tracker Damascus knife with a sawback spine and black Micarta handle on mossy granite in a misty forest
Tracker Knives
Patriot full tang Damascus knife with walnut scales and a crossguard on an oak workbench
Full Tang Knives
Predator Hunter Damascus Knife, Walnut handle with its leather sheath
All

Written by the Bigcat Knives team. Steel, layer count and sizes come from our own knife specification sheet and listing photography. Last reviewed 25 September 2026.