Blade design, black coating, and marketing?

[BLM4L]

After a LOT of checking many brands current line ups and speaking with other people here is what I think may be the case. Please let me know if I am wrong.

LOOKS to me like a huge majority of all the Tanto blade, partially serrated knives come in black.
I have finally decided I don't want black.
Has this got something to do with marketing where a lot of companies think if the customer wants the Tanto, they'll like black better?


Other question:
What blade design, other than Tanto, is well known for strength in penetration, and in general a really sturdy point, and is readily available in other than black in the 3.5 - 4 inch range for folders?

 

[ilbruche]

Seems to me they market to the "mall ninja" crowd with that tactical look.

You can always remove the coating with spray on paint remover, but some knives are not finished well and the blade might not be so good looking underneath.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=486074

Check this thread for a recent coating removal.

 

[357Wheelgunner]

A well designed spear point should do well for a deep penetrating sturdy knife?

 

[Psychopomp]

I've never been a fan of black blades. Unless it's in an outdoor knife made from carbon steel that I know may get wet and not cleaned immediately.

For a folder, I think black is silly. That said, I do have two black knives. I got a black Camillus Heat beacuse I wanted to try something different. And I have a black coated Cabela's S30V Buck 110. But aside from those, all of my EDC folders are uncoated.

Black coating on a carbon steel fixed blade is there for protection. Black coating on a stainless folder is more of a marketing "it looks cool so kids'll buy it" kinda thing in my opinion. But to each his own.

There are plenty of blade designs that'll afford you a strong tip if you think you're going to need to stab something. Any drop point, and a lot of clip points, with a full spine will give you a good sturdy tip that can still be used for delicate slicing.

What is your intended use for this knife? Let that dictate the blade style you choose.

 

[BLM4L]

Seems to me they market to the "mall ninja" crowd with that tactical look.

You can always remove the coating with spray on paint remover, but some knives are not finished well and the blade might not be so good looking underneath.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=486074

Check this thread for a recent coating removal.

I had no idea you could do that. Do you think if the base metal was a little rough that maybe 800 - 2000 grit paper would help it?

 

[spoonrobot]

I love black coated blades. My carry knives spend their daily lives getting covered in water, lemon/lime juice, tomato sauce, squid juice, and other gross liquids. Black coatings just hold up better, and remember that the coating usually covers the entire blade so the areas hidden under the scales and around the pivot area are protected.

I carried and used a CRKT M1 folder for the past several months and did no maintenance on it whatsoever, other than sharpening. This knife was submersed in water several times a day, cut dozens of different food related items and exposed to harsh cleaning chemicals. The knife was never oiled anywhere at all.

Upon disassembly I noted no rust anywhere on the liners, even under the scales there was no rust. Note the brown liquid on the Teflon washer and the LAWKS washer, this was not rust but some kind of slimy growth that was actually lubricating the pivot, I suspect from the debris of a head of lettuce I cut. It smelled terrible.

There was a small amount of rust on the detent hole and a fair amount on the actual detent ball and a little around the pivot hole. The blade held up excellently with no corrosion anywhere on the exposed portion and minor pitting near the teflon washer where I couldn't dry it.

As for marketing think like this:

Tanto (tan-toe) = Tactical
Black = Tactical
Tanto + Black = $$

Same reason most G10 knives are black. They sell.

 

[BLM4L]

In this case most any knife I have, folder or fixed, will cut some boxes, a light wood whittling on occasion, but my concern with penetration is that I want to go for a walk in the woods, which for some reason, seem to have a lot more rabid/crazy wildlife than in the past. I don't want to go head on with just a knife, but many times for me I will be in places where can't carry my Glock.

 

[Siggyhk]

Emersons are avalible in non-black. Some sogs. Some cold steels. Some benchmades. Personally, I don't see any reason not to have a coated blade, and at least one good reason to -corossion resistance.

I am refering to tantos above.