Black Coated blade attraction, i don't get it...

P

PG&A

Joined
Nov 28, 2022
Messages
85
Is it just me, i'm i missing something, Why are black (or any other color) coated blade so popular? They seem to sell out quickly and lot's of picture of those on the picture thread.
I have a black coated DT-12, after my second use, the coating was already looking crappy and i'm assuming after a year it will be gone in some places. I'm newer here and maybe there is a definite positive to it, but i can't see it, so please enlighten me.
 
Lots of folks have knives they collect but don't use, and the black looks awesome. Also though it shows wear, the coating takes a lot of abuse before wearing down to bare metal, and that helps with corrosion resistance. Lots of folks will use paint stripper to remove the coating cause they prefer the stripped look.
 
Last edited:
TheGrownUpKid said:
Lots of folks have knives they collect but don't use, and the black looks awesome. Also though it shows wear, the coating takes a lot of abuse before wearing down to bare metal, and the it helps with corrosion resistance. Lots of folks will use paint stripper to remove the coating cause they prefer the stripped look.
Click to expand...
For collection purposes, ok i can see that. Would not be my first choice personally, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder ;)
 
PG&A said:
Is it just me, i'm i missing something, Why are black (or any other color) coated blade so popular? They seem to sell out quickly and lot's of picture of those on the picture thread.
I have a black coated DT-12, after my second use, the coating was already looking crappy and i'm assuming after a year it will be gone in some places. I'm newer here and maybe there is a definite positive to it, but i can't see it, so please enlighten me.
Click to expand...
Coated blades are the best ever.
 
I enjoy seeing the coating west off of a knife as I use it. When it gets worn pretty good I etch the logo and then strip the coating.

Now days I just buy stonewashed though :D
 
jd4320t said:
I enjoy seeing the coating west off of a knife as I use it. When it gets worn pretty good I etch the logo and then strip the coating.

Now days I just buy stonewashed though :D
Click to expand...
Yeah see, you kind of prove my point, a few more dollars for a stonewash finish that won't peel off after a session on battoning in this price range, seems like a lot less work ($) than cleaning and etching the blade ;)
But i get, to each their own.
 
PG&A said:
Yeah see, you kind of prove my point, a few more dollars for a stonewash finish that won't peel off after a session on battoning in this price range, seems like a lot less work ($) than cleaning and etching the blade ;)
But i get, to each their own.
Click to expand...
Stonewashed option is new. Used to be only coated for a lot of releases.
 
The coating does protect the blade quite a bit in terms of abrasion resistance. Sort of a sacrificial surface that takes the brunt of it and keeps the deep scratches off the blade. How much of a benefit is this? I'd say it's only necessary on extreme usage where you're cutting VERY hard and sharp materials. Otherwise, I'd say they are a bit of a hindrance to sharpening and provide more resistance going through materials in the cut through added friction/stiction. I don't like them personally.

Public Service Announcement :

If you fear rust and the mere thought of it hits you like nails on a chalkboard, fear not my friends....

www.instagram.com

BBB | Fear No Steel on Instagram: "How to remove rust Bar Keepers Friend If you're using anything else you are wrong. Put the flitz and steel wool down. As you can see in the video there was no scrubbing required simply wet surface apply, rub cle

BBB | Fear No Steel shared a post on Instagram: "How to remove rust Bar Keepers Friend If you're using anything else you are wrong. Put the flitz and steel wool down. As you can see in the video there was no scrubbing required simply wet surface apply, rub clean and dry. Done. Now use...
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com
 
PG&A said:
Is it just me, i'm i missing something, Why are black (or any other color) coated blade so popular? They seem to sell out quickly and lot's of picture of those on the picture thread.
I have a black coated DT-12, after my second use, the coating was already looking crappy and i'm assuming after a year it will be gone in some places. I'm newer here and maybe there is a definite positive to it, but i can't see it, so please enlighten me.
Click to expand...
Black coatings are life
20210511_114745.jpg
 
It's a way for manufactures to sell blades that aren't ground smooth/chatter free

*some have more "Character" than others
 
To
PG&A said:
ok see this picture is exactly what i mean, again not judging anyone's taste, but to me this look awful. i would rather not have any black coating at this stage.
Click to expand...
To me, this is like a living history of all the places my knife was with me. I mostly buy knives to use, so I'm unconcerned when they show a bit of wear.
 
PG&A said:
oh ok, that's new information, make more sense now lol
Click to expand...
Yeah. When I first came around there were coated, satin, double cut bead blast and a little competition finish but you weren’t able to pick like you can now. There would be an LE satin finish run and then a combat grade coated or DCBB run. Competition finish was rare in my opinion until the SOB release at BladeShow14. After all that BIG finish came and a different competition finish.

I may be missing some others too.
 
I don’t personally care too much about a coated blade either way, however I wouldn’t buy a Res-C handled model without a coating because I don’t want rust underneath the handle where it can’t be removed. I recon it’s a rare condition but it’s happened.

However I also have to say that I’m pretty disappointed in the latest coating offering with fake blood splatters. Kinda embarrassing tbh. “Urban Nightmare”?? Yikes.

C4A28E58-8D80-4BC5-BCDE-39D06CA57849.jpeg
 
scdub said:
I don’t personally care too much about a coated blade either way, however I wouldn’t buy a Res-C handled model without a coating because I don’t want rust underneath the handle where it can’t be removed. I recon it’s a rare condition but it’s happened.

However I also have to say that I’m pretty disappointed in the latest coating offering with fake blood splatters. Kinda embarrassing tbh. “Urban Nightmare”?? Yikes.

View attachment 2045273
Click to expand...

Honestly that's the biggest reason to have a coating, IMO. The Japanese blacksmiths of old used to leave the steel with the 'as forged' bluing/scale from the furnace to protect the tang against rust. The coating should be better but to my knowledge they are never totally covered on the tang as I always find numbered markings on bare steel for knives that were stripped after the handles were removed. At least that's been true of the full tang Busse blade styles.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top