Blade splotches

[Sean Yaw]

I'm hand sanding an A2 blade and have these funny splotches all across it. I don't think it is a sanding issue, but I could be wrong. Any idea what this is?

 

[J Lensmire]

Did you have to straighten blade prior to final grind? I’ve seen something like that on some of my A2 blades in final finish if blade was torch straightened.

 

[Sean Yaw]

I did not, but if it is heat related, I guess it could have occurred during bevel grinding.

 

[fitzo]

Etch it very lightly and see what pops.

 

[Stuart Davenport Knives]

Looks like carbide banding to me. Pretty cool pattern, too. I find these low alloy steels that contain small amounts of vanadium usually have banding in them. Working on a Cru Forge V hunter at the moment, it has banding and I plan on etching it to bring it out.