can anyone tell me how to get this color/finish on a blade???

[brewcitymike]

I'm wondering if this is something that con only be done during the making of the blade, or if it is at all possible to do it as a modification...say to a becker or something similar. So if anyone out there knows how its done, and if possible how to do it 'aftermarket' please let me know. Thanks I know there is kg gun kote which I think comes in a gray color but I'm really wanting this exact finish/color.
slimfighter2b.jpg

[richard j]

its a hamon line and it is done during the heat treat. the blade is clay coated so that part of the blade cools slower than the uncoated part when quenched. you would have to anneal an already made knife to have it done and it can only be done to carbon steel.

[LX_Emergency]

That blade actually looks like it's been etched in acid as well.

The lines in the steel though are like richard J said, hardening lines, you're not going to find those one ANY production knife I'm affraid.

[brewcitymike]

yeah I know he's got a hamon on there, but to me the entire blade just looks more gray than silver or stainless. Or is the whole blade colored like that from the hamon? So how can at least get a gray blade-gun-kote?, or something else?

[broe]

It is blued. This you can do on your own. Check online for hot bluing gunsmiths locally and they can do it for ya cheap. (need to strip off the handle)

[richard j]

the blade has been acid etched and is grey in color, it has not been blued.

[richard j]

i have hot and cold blued guns before and it would be a waste to remove the handle from a knife like that just to blue it.

[darrin sanders]

Richard is correct, that knife has not been blued. I'm pretty sure it was etched in ferric chloride. Got to Stephan's site and ask him to be sure.

[ac700wildcat]

A warm vinegar soak might get you close to what you want. Here is a pic of a bk7 that I did a warm vinegar soak on.

[parbajtor]

I would have said bead blasted or one of the more exotic grit blasts followed by an etch to raise the hamon, but without a close-up of the surface (or a word from the maker) it's difficult to be sure.

[xmtgx]

It is hand sanded to who knows what grit, then acid etched. Most likely in ferric chloride.