Favorite Blade Finishes - Pick Two

[james terrio]

OK folks, I'm interested in finding out what finishes you prefer on your EDC/utility/hunting/field knives, and why. Pick your top two choices from the categories above.

For the purposes of this poll, let's assume the knife you want is available with any of those options, and the prices for each finish are either the same or not different enough to be a deal-breaker.

Please consider factors like glare, corrosion resistance, ease of maintenance, showing off to your pals, pride of ownership and performance. Not resale value or collectability - we're talking strictly about users here. Factory or handmade/custom.

Thanks for your time!

well dang... I typed "pick twp" in the poll title... you know what I meant.

 

[00ChevyScott]

I voted based on folders (Stonewashed/Beadblasted), but for fixed blades I'd have to say Scotchbrite/Patina.

 

[bdmicarta]

To me stonewashed/tumbled looks like cheap manufacturing. It rounds off the corners that should be there as a result of the machining process. I like to see a finely machined blade.

Beadblasted leaves too many little crevaces for corrosion to start. My bead blasted EDC with ATS34 steel had staining that I could never remove.

I think coated blades are interesting but I don't own very many. If they don't show wear very fast then I like that finish as well.

High polish is good for custom knives, as long as it does not reduce the sharp edges of the grind lines but high polish is wasted on a user knife.

 

[1066vik]

I like the looks of a satin finish, but I also like Blued/plum brown for a traditional style and DLC on a more modern "no maintenance needed" type user.

 

[Misanthropia]

Voted stonewashed/scotchbrite. I'm actually not much of a fan of belt finishes, when they get into the higher grits they seem like a sort of bad mix between a satin and a polished finish.

 

[Ken44]

Hand rubbed satin looks the best IMO, but a machine satin also works well for hunting(since you mentioned hunting).

I also like tumbled blades on my EDC's as it hides scratches better, but I would rather have satin for hunting.

 

[high desert]

stonewashed, beadblast.

 

[unky_gumbi]

My personal favorites are the hand rubbed satin and mirror polished finishes. If it is going to be a user its satin all the way, but on a HC steel mirrored will resist corrotion a bit better. For a show piece it becomes a tough call between the two. More less it comes down to what suits the look and feel of the knife. I am hand sanding 3 blades right now, 2 154CM EDC blades and one O-1 medium sized semi show off fighter. All 3 will be getting a hand rubbed 800 grit finish on the blade, but the fighter will be getting polished brass fittings for contrast.

 

[1SHOT1KILL]

Stonewash and belt/machine finish. I think they look the best. I'm not into bright shiny knives. I feel they are also the easiest to maintain.

 

[mkjellgren]

Stonewashed for modern knives, patina for traditional knives

 

[Dorito Monk]

I like Stonewashed blades best, all around. Highly polished blades (but not mirror-sheen) would be my second.

 

[unit]

High polish but not mirror. It seems to work best for resisting rust.

CPM-M4 laying in the surf at Pensacola Beach.



I have the several other blades in M4 with various lower grit finishes that have not fared nearly as well

Edit to add: I guess your type-o must have gotten in my head or something...I only picked one. I am not telling you my second choice now...you will have to PM me for that if you really want

 

[cbwoods67]

Machine or hand satin for me. In my experience, high polishes don't stay around for very long, and it always disappointing to ruin a beautiful finish.
Most coatings seem to create more drag than they are worth, and I have yet to find myself in a situation where I "needed" a coated blade.

Stonewashes and bead blasts look damn cool, but they also seem to be used to cover up mistakes in the machining process, same with blade coatings.
However, given the choice, I would choose a stonewashed blade over a coated blade every time.

 

[Steel130]

I picked hand rubbed finish as a first choice. And machine/satin as my second. I really like the look of a well done hand rubbed finish, and both that and satins can look excellent as well.

 

[viper89]

Stonewash and hand stain for me although patina comes in close as well

 

[ron_m80]

Dirty, used, scratched, and stained

If they make it that far in my pocket, it must be a good knife.

 

[Cassull]

I think it depends on the kind of knife.

What do I want the knife for? For normal EDC, I'm digging the stonewashed/acid washed finish on big beefy blades. Hand satin is also pretty good looking when the steels are stainless.

For gentlemen knives, I prefer the high polish.

For survival blades, depends on the steel, for non-stainless like 1095/01/etc I prefer a coating of some kind. DLC coating is good, or something like the ESEE coating. Forced patina is also pretty good.


For tactical blades, I prefer a matte coating. DLC is probably my favorite.

 

[james terrio]

Good stuff ladies and gentlemen, thanks for your input. Keep 'em coming!

 

[J85909266]

Stonewashed by a mile, followed by bead blasted.

I also dig etched and patina.

Not a fan of satin, high polish or blade coatings.

 

[cbwoods67]

Dirty, used, scratched, and stained

If they make it that far in my pocket, it must be a good knife.

Very true. But I would be disappointed if it was in my pocket, and hadn't earned the look.