I use these knives a lot.
They handle a lot better w/ the tune-up.
In less than combat conditions, I'm not a big fan of epoxy coatings. (especially a food-prep knife)
Knowing that the whole knife needs a little care helps ensure that the edge always gets a little care. Epoxied blades tend to be ignored and forgotten after awhile.
The light wash w/ white vinegar for ~ ten (10) minutes put a little patina on the steel to help ward off rust corrosion.
The Mk1 comin' w/o the top guard convinced me, along w/ this Vid...
YouTube
... to do the same to the Fighting/Utility knives. Tits-on-a-Boar unless you knife-fight, and always in the way. Really like'em gone.
The raised O-ring washers make a big difference in the grip of the grooved handles, the wire-brush/wax even more so.
As much as I like the Mk1, the handle was as slick as a Louisiana swamp-log, even after bein' used for awhile.
Now...?
...Rino-hide.
