As a user, I have had good experience with stainless damascus on this knife:
The scales have been hardened to RC 60/61. It's much more durable than the titanium slabbed knives I had been carrying. I don't mind the extra weight (actually I prefer it, but that's a somewhat idiosyncratic preference on my part).
I also have a variation on this design from Kelly with stainless damascus bolsters:
While I haven't carried this knife as much, it, plus the first knife, have really made me re-evaluate my thinking about handle materials.