coatings/corrosion resistance?

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Feb 18, 1999
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I'm now strongly thinking of getting an A-100, but am having trouble deciding between the black ti or the gray satin coating (assuming, of course, that the gray coating is still being used). Do both of these coatings continue to resist corrosion even in the spots on the blade where they eventually rub/wear off from use? I own seven Emersons, but haven't used any of my current ones to the extent of knowing this. But I have gotten a tiny bit of speckling on my La Griffe just from being carried, but I think that's black oxide or something. I plan on using the A-100 quite a bit, though.
Thanks for any info/experience.
Jim
P.S.: If I'm right, I think the gray satin coating is tougher than the black ti coating. At least it seems that way on the ones I have. Any ideas on that?
 
In my experience, as heat treated by Emerson, 154CM is VERY resistant to corrosion.

I sanded the coating (black) off my HD-7, and I jog with it in my sweaty hand (closed, of course!). It's been about 4 months since I started doing this, and the blade has held up just fine. :thumbup:
 
The ceramic satin coating is slowly being replaced by the new 2009 stonewashed finish. If you can get an Emerson with a stonewashed finish then I would highly suggest it.

It's the best way to go!!
 
I haven't had a problem with a corrosion on mine.

Well, with one exception - a pimped SARK that I neglected to clean after using to prep some food.

But a dirty knife left long enough will always rust, even if its 'stainless' so that was my bad.
 
I have found EKIs to some of the unrustiest knives I'v had. The coating will pretty much stop all rust unless you really try to be nasty to it.
I have a few stripped and bead blasted blades and only the BB blades have the slightest spotting on bad days, the satin blades are fine.
 
I know this, if you don't wipe your knife down, it will eventually rust.
 
Thanks for all the replies.
I've wondered, because on some Benchmade knives that had the black coating (different than Emerson's), even where the coating scratches off, there is enough coating impregnated in the steel(?) that it still imparts that additional corrosion resistance.

I'm actually considering the stone-washed A-100 now. I've only seen a somewhat small photo of it on newgraham's website. Is Emerson's stone-wash finish the same as other companies' stone-washed finishes? I only have a few stone-washed knives; the Benchmade Axis TSEK; Camillus EDC with 154CM blade; and CRK Sebenza. I love the finish. I've only seen a small photo of the stone-washed A-100, and it's not clear from the picture if it's the same type of finish I'm talking about. The reason I ask is because Emerson's "satin finish" meant something different from other companies' satin finish.
Thanks!
Jim
 
A stone wash finish or a "tumbled" finish will look pretty much the same every time.
The blade is put in a revolving tub with some sort or medium like ceramic beads
and tumbled for 12-48 hours. It can be used to polish stones and stuff like that too.

The Emersons have a stone wash finish on the flats but the bevels have a belt finish.
 
I have found EKIs to some of the unrustiest knives I'v had. The coating will pretty much stop all rust unless you really try to be nasty to it.
I have a few stripped and bead blasted blades and only the BB blades have the slightest spotting on bad days, the satin blades are fine.

I agree. I've never heard of an Emerson rusting beyond some rare instances of steel liners rusting a little.

IF one were to rust, it would be through scratches in the black coating.

In my experience, the older "satin" finish, which is basically a chrome coating that looks like bead-blasting, is very hard and more resistant to scratches than the black coating. That's what I would recommend as the most rust resistant...

even though I've never heard of real rust on an Emerson blade.

.
 
The new stone-washed finish looks great, that old satin coating was really the only thing I didn't care for, on the blades I've stripped; Commander Karambit, and a CQC-7, I haven't had any rust/corrosion. I'll usually wipe them off after any use, and give them a once over with a silicone cloth everyso often.
 
I'm most likely going to buy the stone-washed version. If I really like the design, I might end up also buying a black-ti version as well. I really like the simple lines of the A-100.
Thanks everyone, and any other comments are welcome! :)
Jim
 
The stonewashed just looks spectacular. It's the best looking finish Emerson has ever used. Everyone that owns one of the new models is quite happy with the new finish. The older satin/ceramic coating has been officially replaced by the stonewashed finish and new knives are slowly becoming available in the new finish along with the black coated version as well.
 
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