Cpm-m4 556 - Update - Broken Spring.

coaltrain said:
I'm about to order a couple new "real" knives for myself. I'm new here and new to the knife collecting world, so please be patient.......

While looking through the vast amount of great quality knives from many manufacturers, I keep coming back to this Mini-Griptilian with the M4 blade steel. I'm all set to buy this along with a 943 Osborne, but have one question about the coating on the blade. How does the coating hold up? I am concerned after some use the blade coating will start to wear which would take away from the looks and resale value. Can anyone tell me (or show me) how the black coating stands up to everyday use?

Thanks
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Cerakote? Google it and do some reading..seems to be tough stuff with good reviews.
 
ToxicBot11 said:
Cerakote? Google it and do some reading..seems to be tough stuff with good reviews.
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I honestly missed that part - Cerakote. I did like you said and did some reading - very impressive! I was thinking the coating on the blade was just some type of painted finish.

Thanks for setting me straight - just placed my order.
 
richstag said:
Any available direct still? No way I'm getting gouged on the bay or similar.
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No, the GPK run 551-1303 (300 pieces) sold out awhile ago.
You might still find the 551bk-1301 from a dealer but expect to pay around $225+
 
Hi,

Today I started a new job. I had been working a job using a knife hard on a daily basis. This job is a project manager type job so there will not be constant use but I will be using the knife on construction sites. Today I used it to cut up glued down carpet to find out how hard removal would be for the installers. Just two cuts and a little slicing of adhesive.

Not sure what hit the edge but it blunted from the belly to the tip pretty bad. It also scratched the coating fairly deep. Got home, after my grandfather's funeral, and sharpened it out. Not much of an indicator of anything. Just thought I would share. The coating is showing scratches more in person than the photo shows. Funny part is I like the scratches and as for the edge??? At least it wasn't a half inch chip and just a dent.



More updates as I go,

Kevin
 
I am such a huge fan of patinas but this seems odd to me. Seems the logo and other bare etches have rust spots. Might try forcing a patina.



Kevin
 
Yeah just a tad obvious. I was just thinking on the etching so it doesn't just eat it away.

:)
 
The stripping comment just inspired a few questions. I have stripped Busse knives with chemical strippers. The coating basically bubbles up and comes off with some scrubbing. Is this coating like that? Also, I was worried about stripping the entire blade. With my emerson knives the coating wore off against the washers and you ended up with a smoother action and bare steel. I have not bought the small torx yet to take my own apart. Does this coating wear off against the washers? Finally, I was worried on stripping the entire blade and then the humidity getting into the areas of the pivot that I can't keep clean without taking it apart. Just some thoughts.
 
I think you'd probably have to blast it with abrasives. Patina-izing the exposed logo is probably the best course?
 
Yeah, that is what I am thinking for now. Maybe just keep using it and see how the coating comes off on its own :)
 
The edge did not rust at all. More than likely it's from oils from my hands. I've seen them rust stainless steel. Another note would be the edge will be waxy from stropping and the etches did have Triflow before the start of the workday.

Kevin

ToxicBot11 said:
M4 will rust very quickly if exposed to moisture and not oiled..
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Gotta cut down on that high-sodium diet...it's bad for your heart and now you know it's bad for your blades. :D :wink:
 
Yeah, I think it was the 105 heat index yesterday working hard pockets full of sweat! Couldn't keep enough water in me yesterday.
 
You don't need to strip the coating to force a patina, depending on what you do. You can take cold blue, or whatever your favorite patina medium is, and apply it to the logo are with a q-tip. I know with cold-blue on 1095 coated blades, with laser etched logo, the patina happens within, say, 30 seconds. I've never tried it with other media. Looking at this, and remembering the cold-blue, I think I'm going to apply it to my 810 with the gray cerakote. I think it will look cool.
 
richstag said:
Yeah, I think it was the 105 heat index yesterday working hard pockets full of sweat! Couldn't keep enough water in me yesterday.
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Yeah. I carry a tool of another sort in a pocket and it's been so bad the past two weeks I had to swap the cocobolo grips for rubber. I've never had that problem in 20 years. Hostile/tropical weather...
 
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