Competition vs BIG finish?

resinguy said:
My speculation to explain that apperance:

Bar stock is blanked to the blade shape. Laser? Water jet? or??
Blank is carved by CNC tools.
Followed by heat treat process.
Decarb is then removed (blasting?), leaving dimples/texture.
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I've blasted about a dozen blades and pretty much every one of them has had decarb on the smooth primary grinds too so to my thinking the heat treat doesn't necessarily cause dimples on freshly milled steel, but maybe it does if there is any of the factory scale on the sheet or bar stock? But this one shows evidence of machining and there are still dimples. I dunno. I just chalk it up to being another one of the mysteries of INFI.
 
Stlhead said:
The new comp finish seems to me to be very similar to the old BIG finish, possibly with a few less marks. ...
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PeteyTwoPointOne said:
...
There seems to be different "flavors" of Competition Finish. Each batch has characteristics unique to its own.
Such as when Cam mentioned the run of CF DS8 had an almost satin finish-- it's true. ...
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JackTheKnifeGuy said:
Comp finish is amazing. If you’re lucky it can have an 'almost slightly off' satin look to it.
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The Comp Finish has certainly changed. The differences between CF & BIG DC seem to be getting less and less. I am guessing Jerry is trying different ways to achieve a near-satin finish in the most cost effective way, to offer it at a significantly lower price compared to satin finish. Once again I'm guessing, but it would seem that the machining marks are being minimized with a slight bead blast, to provide a more satin-like appearance.

COPIUOS said:
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One thing to add - Busse did put out some blades distinctly called BIG DC, which threw me for a loop.
...
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You're right. Both the HOG Badger and HOGB8 (and others?) were offered in BIG DC.
 
For me personally I’ll take the new comp finish :-) over the BIG double cut, but I do like the B.I.G. Finish as itself.

So 1) original comp finish
2) the new comp finish
3) BIG finish
4) Coated
5) BIG DC
4 & 5 are close tie

But this is just my personal preference :-)
 
I believe the first comp finish was on the SJTAC. Anyway, here's mine that I got when they were first offered years ago
20180706_224843.jpg
 
Hey the "nuclear" forsaken mistress had "hand worked flats"...what's that mean if it's a comp finish??:confused::confused:
 
resinguy said:
My speculation to explain that apperance

Bar stock is blanked to the blade shape. Laser? Water jet? or??
Blank is carved by CNC tools.
Followed by heat treat process.
Decarb is then removed (blasting?), leaving dimples/texture.
Click to expand...

My experience with manufacturing and metal joining, would lead me to believe that the "Infi Dimples " are from the hot roll process of the sheet. I would then speculate that the blanks are water jet cut. If the stock thickness is as needed it can go to grind and cnc. If too thick, it goes into a plainisher that abrasive cuts both sides to desired thickness. More than one pass may be needed. This stage is what gives the original BIG finish. The infi dimples may or may not be completely removed. After this, greater finishing by hand and belt sanding can give finer finishes. Where heat treatment comes in the process, I would like to know. But a good heat treatment in a vacuum furnace with inert gas, shouldn't leave behind a "decarb" or scale.
 
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