BK10 - Strip it or dont strip it?

Magus

Magus

Joined
Sep 10, 2010
Messages
474
So my new BK10 showed up last week and I'm kinda torn as to if I should strip it or not. I've stripped all my Beckers....I prefer them that way in terms of look and performance.

But for some reason I can't quite bring myself to do it to the BK10 yet. Maybe it's the new factor. Coating looks great, brand new micarta.

Perhaps I should go scuff it up some.

It's going to be used basically as a camping/field type of blade.

So what say the Beckerheads? Strip? Don't strip? Thanks.
 
Strip it! Before you do etch it first so you don't loose the manufacture marks... At least that's my plan for my new 2 and my 15 / 16, I just need to get to the local radio shack for some of that metal eating solution...
 
Your knife. Do what you want to it. That being said, I am VERY glad that i don't mind the coated blades. I have so many knives, i would have to buy stripper by the drum if i wanted it gone. Coating is there for a reason, to prevent rust. My theory is: why make it easier for rust to start in the first place. To keep bare metal from rusting: FLUID FILM is your friend. Use your Google-Fu & look it up. Magic in a can. :D
 
The coating on the Beckers doesn't last long at all. Use it till the majority of the coating has worn off and then strip it. That powdercoating protects against rust much better than a patina and oil.
 
Doubledee said:
Strip it! Before you do etch it first so you don't loose the manufacture marks... At least that's my plan for my new 2 and my 15 / 16, I just need to get to the local radio shack for some of that metal eating solution...
Click to expand...

Could you explain this more? On my BK10 it is just gold lettering, but smooth. I always see "stripped" Beckers and they have the lettering still there, it looks like it is engraved. Did they stop engraving the knives at some point in time? Does EVERYONE that strips their knife do what you just suggested?
 
Go to Radio Shack and get some PCB Etchant. It's a mild acid. The lettering on your knife is laser etched through the coating, but not actually into the metal(a negligible amount). Remove the handles so the blade with lay flat, dab on some PCB Etchant with a q-tip and let it sit for a while. 1-2 hour sessions are usually good... rinse it and brush it with a nylon or brass brush... it will look rusty. Repeat until you get your desired depth. I usually like about 8-15 hours total on a fresh bottle of etchant, but the potency will diminish over time, so subsequent rounds may take a little longer. Do it in the 1-2 hour batches to keep the etching consistent and crisp. If you just let it sit for 8-10 hrs, some areas may be deeper than others.


This is an ESEE 3 after about 13 hours.

a6937898-6428-27a3.jpg
 
So the acid basically burns through the laser etching, but not the black coating around it, thus creating a void in the metal where the original gold laser etching was?
 
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