Are Full mirrors A Contradiction?

jftman

jftman

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Sep 3, 2006
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Got a full mirror and Touching the blade turns it instantly ugly.
Seems opposite to why I like knives.
The best combination is good looks and not to be resistant to being touched.
Like a Good woman....

Why spend extra money and go nuts every sliver of finger print.
Just watching youtube the guys with the fanciest knives keep off with their hands.
(Give me handrubbed Satin)

Seems like a Contradiction. How can the owner be happy and Satisfied too?
 
I have mirror polished blades and am happy AND satisfied with them.

If I wasn't, I wouldn't buy them. :confused:
 
Because they're for show or because you want the extra performance that a mirror polish gives.
 
A good looking knife and a good looking woman have their similarities. :D Seriously, a mirror polish DOES have a similarity to a VERY pretty woman; they both tend to be rather delicate but beautiful to look at. :cool: NOT necessarily a bad thing. ;)
 
I am gonna guess, cause you like it and it's gonna be a show piece????

It doesn't float my boat, but I am sure my taste in blade finishes or how I use my knives isn't for everyone either.....
 
Full-mirror blades always remind me of the displays I'd see as a kid in the various outlets that sold them at the time. All of the finishes were mirror....all of the knives were P'sOS. Well, most of them...especially as I look back now.

For that reason I've never owned a mirror polish blade since about high school, the exception being a couple of Italian switchblades I've owned since then.

Also, I'm under the impression most of the mirrors out there, being relatively more expensive than other brands, are likely not users; Somehow I don't see people buying them to be scratched up. To the contrary, I suspect many a moon are spent by some gazing back at themselves as they admire them.

I certainly understand the attraction to them though. The shine can radiate a beauty in some of them. Just not my thing due to early imprinting of my delicate psyche.
 
I don't care about fingerprints. The friction reduction and increased corrosion resistance is nice. :)
 
I love mirror polished blades. I don't hit my Guitars or car up with a scuff pad just because its hard to keep them clean and shiny. I don't mind a bit of upkeep. I'm either working with a knife or I am admiring it but usually the later comes after a good cleaning and not during use. But I'm not going to obsess over finger prints.
 
Rockstead is the only brand that does a mirror polish that holds up to wear, and that's because of the insanely high hardness they run them at

I would rather have polished DLC than polished steel.
 
Comeuppance said:
Rockstead is the only brand that does a mirror polish that holds up to wear, and that's because of the insanely high hardness they run them at

I would rather have polished DLC than polished steel.
Click to expand...

Well, that depends on which Rocky's you're referring to. The ZDP blades show wear like most knives (based upon reports I've read). The DLC coated YXR7 blades hold up pretty well, but I have still managed to scratch mine up a bit.

I used my Chi to cut some zip ties off a chain-link fence the other day, and the mirror came into contact with the metal many times. It was pushed and dragged all along the fence and it didn't show a single scratch afterwards.
 
I love mirror polished. Would love to see some pics of your mirror blades if you haven't posted them already!

marcinek said:
I have mirror polished blades and am happy AND satisfied with them.

If I wasn't, I wouldn't buy them. :confused:
Click to expand...
 
I've done a number of mirror-polished edges for customers and every one has been ecstatic about it. These are often on showpieces, or for those "Sunday carry" items.
 
katanas said:
A good looking knife and a good looking woman have their similarities. :D Seriously, a mirror polish DOES have a similarity to a VERY pretty woman; they both tend to be rather delicate but beautiful to look at. :cool: NOT necessarily a bad thing. ;)
Click to expand...

Well , the problem is I want to use them , not to look ............both of them ............................ NOT necessarily a bad thing :D
 
Like Phill Hartsfield, I understand and respect the Mirror but give be a duty finish any day.
rolf
 
Natlek, as Blues indicated, some can stand up to some pretty hard "use". :eek: So, have at it, test some out. Let us know your results. ;) Seriously, I have a few, of the knives, and like them but admit I use others for all but the lightest tasks.
 
After owning and using mirror polished, satin, stone washed and even rough ground blades, I eventually prefer the mirror polish finish, especially on carbon steel blades. By far easier to keep clean (very important when you eat with your knife), less prone to corrosion (carbon steel !!!) and way smoother cutting performance. I have some rough ground stainless blades I like and use a lot : they will go to the grinder and get a mirror polish, for sure !
 
A mirror edge will go a long way from preventing rust corrosion. Ironically, I always associate the high polish knives with cheap low end knives.
I'd rather have a stonewash blade. The hide smudges, scratches, and stains better.
 
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