CRKT bead blast vs. satin finish

J

James Y

Joined
Feb 18, 1999
Messages
6,504
I love many of the CRKT knives and own quite a few. Although I like them all a lot, there is one thing that would make me like several of the models even better (and I may be in the minority on this) ... to have a satin finish option on models like the KFF, Point Guard, and perhaps the M-16 as well.

The satin finish on my original Mirage Zytel not only looks good, but is easy to care for. If rust appears, it's nothing to take fine steel wool and some mineral oil to remove it. It's not such a quick and easy solution to do so for a bead blasted blade.

I've also noticed for certain cutting jobs, the satin finish seems to "slide" through a bit smoother than a bead blast...it may be a small thing, but sometimes I notice a slight "nails on chalkboard" feeling when using bead blasted knives for certain tasks.

Finally, as virtually all of my CRKT models are AUS-6, CRKT itself mentions one of the advantages of AUS-6 is its corrosion resistance. But bead blasting can negate that advantage. Especially if you use it to cut corrosive stuff, you don't always want to worry about immediately rinsing it off...a satin finish lends itself better to such situations, IMO.
Jim
 
I agree with you, I don't mind a bead blast blade sometimes, and it does look good on some knives. However, I think a satin finish is much better looking on most blades, and as you mentioned still easy to maintain. I think it would be awesome if CRKT offered a lot of their bead blast blades in a satin finish.

-Badger
 
James, 1 option might be the new Police/Military Model M-16's. These are the M-16's with flippers/aluminum handle with "black coated" blades. The Police Model has a Blue Handle and the Military Model has an Olive Drab look to it. I receieved about 10 of them in the other day and must admit, they are pretty cool looking. I cannot comment on the durability of the coating ad I am sure it will show wear just as a Benchmade black would also.

These are not listed on my site yet. If you would be interested, drop me an email and I will let you know what models I have in stock.



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Knives & Things
Mike Payne
 
Mike,
I've carried an M16-04 with that coating for almost 2 years and still haven't worn it off. I've cut cardboard, rope, and just about everything around the shop with it.

FWIW, CRKT will be using the Ceramic Bead that I use in the very near future. Quite a different finish than the normal bead blast one.
 
My friend went on some outdoors trip and cut a couple plants with it and the bead blast started to get rust spots. I've done similar work with less corrosion resistant steel knives and no spots. My conclusion is that bead blast is evil, and it feels like I could file my nails on it. I would suggest using a piece of a scotch bright pad and satin finishing it (carefully make sure the streaks from polishing only goes the up and down direction). Then use some rouge to polish it up. Thats what I did to my KISS. Looks better, cuts better.

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Chang the Asian Janitorial Apparatus
 
Wow........can't ask for a better review of the black coating than that! Thanks Kit
smile.gif
I must admit these new black coated version M-16's are soooooooooo smooth also and I especially like the flipper added to the smaller aluminum M-16's now.....these things ROCK!

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Knives & Things
Mike Payne
 
The only thing I can add to that is I think that the satin finish has a better lubricity than the bead blasted. The ultimate test I think is to try to slice some cheese with it.
Not that always use my kiss to slice cheese but its an empirical test i think....
 
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