Fake Damascus Ulu knife on eBay Made from soft scrap steel

I recently saw a project by Jim J. Where he bought a ulu knife blank and built a handle for it. It was a beautiful handle so I searched eBay for the blank and I found it. It was sold by a company Aisha Cheema @140 N. Clinton Ave. Bay Shore NY 11706-6422. The seller calls himself D Damascus on eBay. You can see his logo in the right bottom corner in the photo above.

Instead of buying the blank with the rain drop pattern I bought the ulu with the handle from the seller. When it arrived it didn’t look like the same knife that was pictured on eBay. The handle was poorly made and it was a lot smaller than I expected.

Something didn’t look right about the blade. Some parts looked like ink was missing of the blade where it was printed by a laser printer.

I tried cutting with it and it was so dull I couldn’t cut paper with it. I looked at the edge and it was folded over. I used a kitchen knife sharpener and it still wouldn’t cut well.

I took a cheap HF. file to it, close to the blade to see if it would skate over the steel. After a few strokes the file dug right in and did no damage to the file. See photo below.

I didn’t do the etching test where you sand off the surface until the pattern is gone and then dip it into Ferric Chloride, because I don’t have any.  If it’s real Damascus steel the pattern will return. 

I contacted the seller about it and haven’t heard a peep from him. I also gave him a bad review. 

I did a lot of research on line and found Chinese and Pakistani blade makers use lasers to etch in a Damascus steel pattern on cheap scrap steel and sell them as real layered Damascus. 

What did I expect for a $32.59 with free freight blade with a leather sheath and think it was the real deal. 

I’m posting this to warn people of this scam. 
I hope this helps others avoid buying faux Damascus. 

The Wood Guy.