Acid Etching San Mai Steel?

[Comeuppance]

So, I picked up a Recon Tanto in San Mai III at a price that was so ridiculously great that I have no hesitation towards carrying and using this EXCEPT for how stupidly pretty it is:

So, my options are:
- Suck it up and deal with messing up such a gorgeous blade (unlikely)
- Sell it and buy the DLC 3V version (seems like a cop-out)
- Make it less pretty and thus feel fine using it (ideal)

That last option is the topic of this thread. I google image searched "acid etch san mai" and found nothing relevant. Has anyone else etched a 3-layer San Mai blade? Vinegar is cheap and this blade is wonderful, but I don't want to ruin it as an experiment and would be perfectly happy with the 3V version if making this less heartbreaking to use isn't a viable option.

 

[RX-79G]

That's stainless. I doubt vinegar is going to do much. You'll need PCB etchant to get results.

While it is pretty, it isn't going to scratch all that easily, and scratches can be removed.

 

[Jens Schuetz]

Could do electro etching. Works on any steel.

 

[Bigfattyt]

I never got any markings besides scratches on my old San mai trailmaster. In fact, you could not really see the lamination lines on the old one.

Just use it. I would not worry about trying to etch.

Course, I have seen good etching done on stainless before, but the maker said it was a real pain to get right, and he might not ever do it again on stainless.

 

[Comeuppance]

I never got any markings besides scratches on my old San mai trailmaster. In fact, you could not really see the lamination lines on the old one.

Just use it. I would not worry about trying to etch.

Sounds like a plan :thumbup:

 

[eKretz]

Stainless is tough to etch. Ferric chloride (PCB etchant) probably won't do much. I've gotten some good etches on stainless with muriatic acid (aka hydrochloric acid).

 

[Jason B.]

It's stainless... Good luck etching it.

Just use it and give it some real beauty marks!