Damascus Steel knives are amazing for cooking but not something you would give to a beginner. Not only are they expensive as all hell, but they're sharper than average knives. They do tend to stay sharper than regular knives for longer, but because they're softer than stainless steel, if you don't keep them properly sharpened they're prone to becoming totally useless very quickly. Perfect for the trained chef, terrible for the first time consumer. But hey, a thoughtful gift nonetheless.