Mitutoyo 500-196-30 Advanced... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IG46NL2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share This is a great set of calipers
Truly fake Damascus blades are very rare these days. The stuff on Amazon is in fact pattern welded steel, made via the same methods as regular bladesmiths. The difference is its made in Pakistan or China, and the materials are of questionable quality. Their ability to withstand grinding, rubbing, sharpening are largely the same as the real stuff. Just a little less resistant on account of the steel grades. I would not recommend you buy it under any circumstance.
On the crucible note, it's basically useless and impractical to melt steel at home. Forget about that concept completely. If they're into casting, which is really not related to knifemaking, they'll know the specifics.
My suggestion would be a pair of high quality calipers. https://www.amazon.com/Mitutoyo-500-196-30-Advanced-Measuring-Resolution/dp/B00IG46NL2/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1603233874&refinements=p_89%3AMitutoyo&s=industrial&sr=1-1
Every craftsman can use them and will use them constantly, they will last a lifetime, and they're a quality brand so you won't need to second guess yourself there.
Which applies to all tax.
But not only does the imposition requiring off shore entities to account for GST mean additional costs over and above the 15%, (because they now have to institute systems to deal with it for a tiny minority of their client base), but the fact remains: sales have declined nowhere near enough to explain any tax breaks off shore suppliers might have had.
This is still the reality:
Again: GST obviously wasn't the reason shit is so expensive here, the field is now tilted even more favourably for NZ suppliers.
More info from the Customers Questions portion:
Please do not be fooled by fake Mitutoyo calipers on Amazon. MSI-Viking Gage is still here and is still the #1 Licensed Distributor in the USA for this product! We ship from South Carolina, and we sell +1,000/year! We welcome you to verify that we(MSI-Viking Gage) are a licensed distributor for Mitutoyo by calling their corporate number 1-888-648-8869 (US ONLY) which can also be found on www.mitutoyo.com
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions!
*MANUFACTURER WARRANTIES ARE ONLY VALID WHEN THE PRODUCT IS PURCHASED FROM A LICENSED DISTRIBUTOR!!* see less
By MSI Viking SELLER on February 15, 2017
https://www.fishersci.com/shop/products/digital-calipers/nc1265765#?keyword=Calipers
$185
https://www.thorlabs.com/thorproduct.cfm?partnumber=DIGC6 Thorlabs price $150
Amazon price $108
You can see the price difference by cutting out 2 extra middlemen.
Mitutoyo – made in Japan, but beware of counterfeits: https://www.amazon.com/Mitutoyo-500-196-30-Advanced-Measuring-Resolution/dp/B00IG46NL2
Snap On does not make all their own tools. It wouldn't surprise me if the Snappy set is just a re branded starrett. The boxes look identical. That being said, what kind of work do you do? I do a lot of structures and I barely use my combination set. I use the shit out on my little 4" square. Unless you're in a machine shop I think the big name sets are way overkill.
I mostly use a 6", 18" scale, a 4" Combination square, and a Mitutoyo Caliper