CG User or Home Satin Job - which is more desirable and why?

[<Flux>]

I had this conversation with a friend recently and was curious as to what you all think. Say you were buying a user CG Busse or kin, would you rather it still have some paint left on it or would you rather it be stripped and sanded by the original owner? I'm not talking about a professional job done by Busse or one of the other experienced knife modders, just a home job done with some paint stripper and lots of hand sanding. I'd love to hear your explanation as well.

 

[Soulrack223]

I'd prefer the original coating.

 

[powernoodle]

Same here. Original. A beat up Busse looks awesome.

 

[BBQ BOY]

I think satin goes through wood easier. Less resistance and easier to clean.

 

[stjones]

I'd prefer the original coating. If I want it stripped I would rather do it my way.

 

[ajbuckelew]

CG user because it's only used, not modified too. I would strip it myself if I wanted to. Plus gotta love a blade with battle scars.

 

[voracious1]

It doesn't matter much to me. Many of my users have that competition grade finish, stripped, partially polished from use and sharpening.

jody

 

[resinguy]

I usually buy CG grade new, and do my own ghetto satin, but I was happy to pick these up as users that someone else had stripped and sanded.

 

[snwbrdr202]

I think satin goes through wood easier. Less resistance and easier to clean.

+1...Without getting too scientific, satin definitely decreases the coefficient of friction when chopping/batonning. However, the look of a well worn CG Busse/kin looks AWESOME!

 

[Major Kong]

I love the smoothing and the the missing finish on my user BWM. I pick it up before any of my other knives 99% of the time.

 

[Last Visible Canary]

stripped, but ONLY if it's just the blade. I would not want a fully stripped knife for the same reason I don't want factory satin, bead blast, or mirror finished knives - I want to be able to sand/clean under the handle scales or I want them coated.

Wood sticks less to bare metal compared to coating, and I can sand on metal and have it look nice vs. coating that makes it look even worse. I don't do much food prep with my knives, but again I prefer bare metal over coating regardless of if it's going to come off or not.

 

[Gundog JYD#138]

factory coating all the way. and if it shows ware you get to see some if the battle scars and tough love the knife has had. then if you have to strip the knife you can do it and do it right.

 

[deth1313]

Original. Something very appealing about the looks of a good Busse user

 

[spider991]

Gotta go with CG cause the first time ya bash or scratch a nice satin finish it hurts.

 

[RussMo]

I'd prefer the original coating.

+1,:thumbup:!!!

 

[InquisitorLord]

I would have to say it would depend on the knife in question, and the circumstances specific to that situation, but generally speaking I would rather have it as close to original as possible, because then if I want it modded I will know exactly what went into it whether getting it done professionally or doing it myself.

 

[DRodent]

I bought a user Scrap Yard Regulator that the previous owner had stipped and polished - their were some marks in the polics but its a user.

I like it because it saved me the time and effort of doing it myself.

 

[Cutshaw]

I like strippers... I've stripped several of mine for the same reasons noted - they go thru wood (and food) with much less resistance. I'm not concerned about corrosion on my INFI and, honestly, am not concerned about it with my SR101 because I cold-blue the SR101 and only have minimal maintenance.

While the above is true, someone stripping a CG would not add any value for me. Unless we're talking one of the really accomplished folks.

Solstice's stripped & bead-blasted Ratweiler is one of the finest looking blades I've ever seen.

 

[AZTimT]

As long as the person stripping/sanding doesn't mess with the edge I could go either way, but I would not pay more unless it was a really high quality job. For a user it doesn't matter much but most of my keepers get stripped or handle customized anyhow. Especially with flat/saber grinds as the coating starts coming off pretty quick and is much worse for friction going through wood. Convex grinds are more forgiving as less area is touching at any one time.

These are some I have stripped/buffed and/or handle smoothed for myself. It is fun to make a blade look or feel just how you like it.

The old competition finish (not bead blasted) is my favorite all around though and I have had the shop do that to a few of my favorites. I wish it were a regular offered factory option as I like the INFI dimples that gives each blade its own fingerprints.

 

[M67]

CG user because it's only used, not modified too. I would strip it myself if I wanted to. Plus gotta love a blade with battle scars.

+1 :thumbup:

If I was going to buy a CG user, I'd prefer there to be some coatin left so I can do my own ghetto satin on it.