A Question For Knife Buyers???

L6steel

L6steel

Joined
Sep 23, 1999
Messages
5,855
If you're buying a using knife, would you rather buy one that is polished real shiney, has a satin finish, bead blasted, or black nitride coated? I have always polished all of my knives, whether users or collectors, and I'm just wondering if I should start finishing them differently. Thanks for your input!! Take care! Michael
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"Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!"


 
I like mirror polish. Saves me from bringing a mirror. Besides, it's pretty easy to touch up with super fine sand paper.
 
Satin is my favorite because it is the easier to take care of than all but a coating and coating tend to scratch.
 
I like a mirror polish even tho I know that it isn't going stay that way for very long. About the only time i don't want a mirror finish is on a totally tactical knife.

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~~TOM~~
Spyderco Starmate winner! Thanks Sal Glesser!!!
 
I think it'd be boring if they all had the same finish. I guess I like satin best, followed by bead-blasted, then mirror, with black-coated last. But I have, and like, some of each.
 
Congrats on the Starmate, Shappa! It is one fine knife. Satin finish, of course.
wink.gif


[This message has been edited by Ewok (edited 15 October 1999).]
 
I love the stonewashed finish. I wish more companys would use it. Not only does it look better than satin, it hides scratches better too.

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Johnny
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I just looked around and found out that all most all of my knives have other than mirror polished blades. I have a few antique knives, 1920/30's, that are polished. The others are ceramic, Ti, Paternwelded, etc.
The only one I don't have, yet, is black.

Dwight

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This post is a natural product.
The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects.

 
Put me down for satin, too! I love my polished Moran, as well, but for most knives I just like the looks of a nice satin finish (400-600 grit). I can't decide if I like the stonewashed finish on my Pioneer or not. It isn't bad, but sometimes I feel like it's just too much, you know?

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I prefer a satin finish because mirror finishes are just too pretty to use. I'm always afraid of scratching that beautiful finish. I've stopped buying knives with a mirror finish for this reason, unless I am just going to throw it into the collection and never use it. And that seldom happens because when I buy a knife I wanna use it.

Lose the bead blast finish. Too hard to maintain and who wants an ugly gray blade that is more prone to rust anyway?


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The individualist without strategy who takes opponents lightly will inevitably become the captive of others.


 
I prefer a satin finish on a user, not too fine. They are easy to touch up at home with wet/dry.
 
THANKS FORUMITES!!!!!!!!!!!! All the time I've wasted at the buffer! Crap!!

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"Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!"
 
Sometimes I feel like a satin is best. But when I see a blade with a mirror polish, it just make the whole worksmanship look better.
 
P'ah, folks need to be more daring. Mirror finishes can make great users, ya just have to swallow your reservations. It is the best finish for resisting corrosion, after all.

I mirror-polish most everything, specifically for use. I sometimes use a fine scotch-brite finish for economy; it's still quite corrosion-resistant and lets me offer the knife for a bit less.

I can't stand coatings, any of 'em. They look 10x worse scuffed-up than a scratched mirror finish.

Bead-blasting? Why pit a perfectly good knife?

I do like the looks of these stone-washed finishes, though.

In the end, it's always the buyer's call. But given my druthers I'd polish everything.


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-Corduroy
"Why else would a bear want a pocket?"

Little Bear Knives
Drew Gleason:
adg@student.umass.edu
 
1. folders that I'll only carry for defensive purposes=Black-T
2. Hunting knives I like polished. Corrosion resistant, and can be used as signal mirror in emergency situation
3. Hard users/work knives, I'm not sure if this is satin, but it's kind of the natural, unpolished metal. No coating, but not mirror.
4. Forget bead blasting. I'd rather stab sand and soak in salt water than have another bead blasted blade.
 
Every time I've taken a mirror finish knife "out" I'm too chicken to use it "hard".
Due largely to my epic laziness I'm not a huge fan of trying to restore a mirror finish on a user- I tend to keep them where I can look at them (attracted by shiny things). I don't feel bad about beating the poop out of a satin or blasted blade- (but when I get scratches on a black coated blade it ruins some of the fun.)

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Runs With Scissors
AKTI# A000107
 
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