a stamp or etching- which is better

[marekz]

like the thread says, it seems to me that a stamp would be alot more easier than the whole etching thing. what is the benefit to etching your name versus stamping? Can etching offer more choices of design? If all goes well with my lungs i planned on ordering a blade stamp and one of those stamp pressess. whata youll think---thanks mark

 

[TekSec]

Age old question. Stamping has it's pro's and con's just as etching does. I stamp, I think it's more traditional. However, you have to stamp pre-HT so if you have to do any heavy ricasso work after HT, you're pretty much screwed. Not to mention you have to make sure you have the stamp nice and even on the steel or it will imprint funky. Etching can be done as a final step taking the whole pre-HT thing out of the picture and can be as deep as a stamp. You can etch anywhere on the blade. Con that I've heard is a fuzziness around the edges if your stencil is old or not sealed down well. Not a crisp imprint. However, if done right, I would say etching is superior for quality of logo and location on the blade.

 

[shike]

I used to engrave my knives. Same machine that they use at places like Things Remembered. A touch of class imo.
I engraved the last name on work working knives and the name and location on special pieces.