Chalkboard Finish Fix?

Havoc550 · Oct 11, 2013

I figured I would try here first before another forum. The Texas switchblade/automatic knife law now allows for use and carry of an automatic knife. Well, outside of stupid cities with their own ordinances like San Antonio, but I live just a few miles out.

I had purchased a Benchmade Infidel awhile back and was impressed with everything but the finish. It felt like you were rubbing your fingers on a chalkboard. Some people can handle fingernails across a chalkboard, some cannot. I, for the purpose of this post, cannot. The Infidel was just going to stay in the safe anyway, so I put it up and haven't touched it since.

The other day I picked one of up the HK branded Entourage single action knives. Its on the lower side of the price spectrum so I figured I would get some real use out of it. Well, the chalkboard feeling is there and unless I wear gloves, its going to drive me crazy.

I don't intend on ever sending this knife in for warranty work or anything since shipping it will be a giant pain. I was thinking of giving the finish a nice rub down with maybe a scotch brite pad. It should smooth it out enough to feel like a regular aluminum anodized finish.

Does anyone have any other suggestions or input?

R_einan · Oct 11, 2013

Some of that chalky feeling will go away as you handle the knife. It has on my 943.

RE

RevDevil · Oct 11, 2013

I'm thinking a pass on a Scotch Brite pad or belt might give it a better tactile feel, as well as a nice worn in finish.

Legenda · Oct 12, 2013

The chalky finish kinda wears away with use. I like it tho, it adds grip. I personally would recomend leaving it alone. And you might mess up with a dremel or something and end up ruining your brand new knife. But if you must. I'd recommend polishing it very very lightly.

Skimo · Oct 12, 2013

RevDevil said:
I'm thinking a pass on a Scotch Brite pad or belt might give it a better tactile feel, as well as a nice worn in finish.

Hand rub it with sand/pea gravel, or just use it a lot.

I would say lightly hit it with scotch brite until you're happy if you don't want to deal with cleaning out grit.

jkarp_53 · Oct 12, 2013

Best way to break a knife in is to put it in your pocket and use it.

dogboye · Oct 13, 2013

Put it in your pocket and carry it. Over time, it wears to a smoother finish. And it really doesn't take long. But other than that.... scotchbrite. But I personally would never do that. And I HATE the fingernail-on-chalkboard ... thing. But I deal with it on the knives until it wears away.

Havoc550 · Oct 15, 2013

Thanks for all the suggestions. I went ahead and went with the Scotchbrite pad and it worked very well!! I removed the clip and gentle gave the whole knife a rubdown. It didn't even take that many strokes to smooth it out to a tolerable texture. I went a little further just to make it nice and even and visually, you can't tell I even did it.

As much as I just wanted to deal with it, the knife would have gone unused and the few other auto's would have gotten used instead. I bought this for a user and it will now be used.