Black Blades - Why?

P

pinetree

Joined
Jun 24, 2005
Messages
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It seems a large number of survival knives have black blades. However shouldn't a survival knife be as shiny as possible? This morning while I was pruning some tomatoes before leaving for work, I noticed my knife, AG Russell Featherlite, was really catching the sun and sending a great reflection. As such the knife can serve as a signaling device in a pinch.
 
I like the coatings on blades like Scrap Yard and Swamp Rat just because I can be lazy and not clean the blade and keep it from rusting.

I am guessing so many blades are black so they can be "tactical" and the mall ninjas can look cool. Everyone knows that the majority of people buying large fixed blades, and most other knives for that matter, are not really going to use them for their intented purpose. They MIGHT open a package every now and then, but that's about it.
 
Better to keep a small signal mirror.

The dark coating is to keep the blade non-reflective so that if you have to use it...it doesn't attract a lot of attention. Also, helps in protecting the blade.
 
A coating is great on a carbon steel blade, helps with the rust issue.

I agree that its mostly about the tacti-cool look on alot of knives.

I normally end up stripping all the coating off anyway, I don't like coated blades for food prep, I think it holds bacteria in the rough finish.
 
I think many are coated because it's less expensive and time consuming (time is money) to finish and many a ninja do like black. It does serve a purpose in protecting the blade and the good ones really last and take some abuse. Pros and Cons to everything :)
 
the coatings serve 2 purposes as have been stated already. coatings are designed to help prevent corrosion and or to prevent reflection of light.

unfortunatly with the popularity of everything exterme and "black-ops" just about anything can be coated and sold to the "high speed":rolleyes: individuals that frequent shoping malls.
 
Black coated blades are also much more fun to find in the dark after you accidentaly droped it. Ranks up there with having a black flash light and dropping it in the dark.

I like most of the coated blades I've got, I wish it was easier to get them in more collors, besides Busse.

Patrick
 
Mark me down as not a coated blade fan.:thumbdn:

However if I was gonna use a carbon steel blade in a very wet environment I'd go for one with coating:thumbup: :D
 
I usually peel off the coatings. I like plain steel and would rather get a nice patina on a carbon blade that have a coating on it.
 
Others have already stated why:
1) To help protect the blade from corrosion - coatings help both carbon and stainless steel blades, although carbon steel blades need it much more.
2) To make the blade non-reflective.
3) To appeal to mall ninjas.

I do like coated blades. I don't like rust, and coating helps keep it off.
 
I like me them shiny blades! (but only when they are not prone to rusting)

If it is a steel that rusts easily, give me a coating.
 
Dantor said:
I think many are coated because it's less expensive and time consuming (time is money) to finish and many a ninja do like black. It does serve a purpose in protecting the blade and the good ones really last and take some abuse. Pros and Cons to everything :)
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I think Dantor has hit upon the main reason here. If you strip most coated blades you will find they are rough finished. The extra time spent getting a mirror finish all adds up to extra costs !
 
Rat Finkenstein said:
I like me them shiny blades! (but only when they are not prone to rusting)

If it is a steel that rusts easily, give me a coating.
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QFT, I like em w/o a coating as well. Now with Busse I do like the coating on some of my harder use knives like my BM because I can get a little lasier.
 
I have come to dislike the coatings on my Swamp Rats and Becker, thats why I'm removing them. I did have an Ontario TAK1 D2 that had a light coating, I was fine with that.
 
Because black=stealth, and people like things with the word stealth attached to them.

ninja.jpg
 
This post would rock with a picture of your A.G. Russell Featherlite at work.

I am no expert, but I would guess the history of blued blades would have something to do with the black painted knives today.
 
Chris Reeve does his KG gun-kote in a few colours including red, blue, green, silver and cammo. Having seen a few examples, other than silver and the cammo, I think the reason that a lot of coatings are black is that bright colours just don't look right!

I've used a bright orange lanyard on my black CR Shadow which does trick.

Mark
 
Can't really add anyhing to what has been said. Fortunately coatings can be removed if you don't like them.
 
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