How does the Blur hold up aesthetically?

celtic11

celtic11

Joined
Dec 28, 2012
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So I got my OD blur blem and my plan is to keep the CF blur set aside as more of a "gentlemens folder" and carry the OD as my EDC. So my question is, most of my other knives I've used for EDC are G10 and I am wondering how the anodized aluminum, tractec inserts, and black coating on the blade all stand up to everyday carry and light duty cutting tasks? If anybody has any pictures of a blur they've carried for a year or two to go along with their testimony that would be cool too.

Obviously it'll be a user and I don't mind if it gets some wear and tear, I am just hoping that anodizing doesn't get crazy scratched up. Then I might have to go and buy another blur....
 
Anodizing is pretty tough overall. It will scratch against metal. But if you are just pocketing it, it should hold up quite well. I would venture to guess that even if it was lightly bumping against keys it would take a little while to wear down to bare metal. The black ano may even be Type three which is pretty darn resistant to scratches. Think black aluminum flashlights.

Here is a link to read about Anodizing if it interests you: http://www.anodizing.org/Reference/reference_guide.html
 
It will hold up well.
I've had mine for about 2 months, have put it through a good amount of tasks, and not a single problem....
Not even a scratch on the blade!
It's one of my favorite knives around $50
 
I have a newer one I carried for years, my dad carried a 440 version, his anodizing came off easier than mine. The newer onces seem to have a stronger finish all around.
 
A fair chunk of the knives I've owned have had aluminium handles - Hogue EX01, Blur, 3 Cyclones, 2 RAMs, 2 Benchmade Presidios, Knockout...I've gotta say, if you're worried about the knife LOOKING used after it's been used, you might want to look elsewhere. Aluminium is easily my favourite folder handle material, and it stands up to very substantial abuse, but it definitely shows wear. Even just carrying a knife, I've found, will leave marks on the the handle - whether it's from keys in your pocket scratching up against the knife, brushing up against rough surfaces as you're just walking around, etc. If you use it, it'll definitely start to show. I had bought my blur used (an older 440A Tanto), and it was starting to look a whole lot like the one in kneedeep's post by the time I sold it (except it had a few more dents and a bit less silver showing).

Personally, my knives are Tools, not Jewellery, so it's just fine by me if a knife looks a bit beat-up.
 
Dorito Monk said:
A fair chunk of the knives I've owned have had aluminium handles - Hogue EX01, Blur, 3 Cyclones, 2 RAMs, 2 Benchmade Presidios, Knockout...I've gotta say, if you're worried about the knife LOOKING used after it's been used, you might want to look elsewhere. Aluminium is easily my favourite folder handle material, and it stands up to very substantial abuse, but it definitely shows wear. Even just carrying a knife, I've found, will leave marks on the the handle - whether it's from keys in your pocket scratching up against the knife, brushing up against rough surfaces as you're just walking around, etc. If you use it, it'll definitely start to show. I had bought my blur used (an older 440A Tanto), and it was starting to look a whole lot like the one in kneedeep's post by the time I sold it (except it had a few more dents and a bit less silver showing).

Personally, my knives are Tools, not Jewellery, so it's just fine by me if a knife looks a bit beat-up.
Click to expand...

Yeah, just to clarify.. I understand it'll get some wear and tear as a user and I am fine with that. I think it gives the knife character. And if in 5 years, my knife looks like the one in kneedeep's post then that's quite a testament to the knife IMO. I just didn't want it to look like that in 2 months is all.
 
Mine has been in my pocket since 2009. It is my favorite use and abuse knife. Light duty--heavy duty ..it takes anything I throw at it. The Blur was meant to be a user!
 
Ive been edc'ing the CF Blur a month now with no regards on keeping it pretty. I bought three for a reason. I havent dinged the aluminum really at all but it will come. The CF is of course getting sctratched but looks good. I can buff and polish it once it gets bad. Blade performance with the steel and recurve is tremendous.

I haven't edc'd a tractec much though I owned a Salvo and a Black Blur... I would assume no issues would arise if I did.

The DLC on the Blur is a good one. :thumbup: not the painted chippy stuff, it'll hold up well with use.
 
kneedeep said:
The Kershaw FB page has a pretty extreme example for you. I think it looks amazing. Reminds me of a well used, brassed, old camera.
Click to expand...

I saw that, cool story behind it too.

nwmetalbug said:
If its a user the more worn looking the better
Click to expand...

Yeah, used knives have appeal. There's used Blur pics on that giant Blur thread lookn good.
 
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Had mine for two years, scratched, beaten, and it sstill doesn't look awful. But then again, I like well used knives.
 
This is my 2 year old Blur I was talking about. EDC'd it for around 2 years. Used it when I worked on a chicken farm, so it saw some use and abouse.


Overall knife:
IMG_0596_zps6d9f1513.jpg

Blade:
IMG_0602_zps95363e2d.jpg

Scratches on scales:
IMG_0601_zpscefc9c75.jpg

Scratches on scales (2):
IMG_0604_zps70a7cf61.jpg

Back of knife (Bent the crap out of the clip one day getting out of the farm truck.):
IMG_0598_zps513cd57c.jpg
 
Thanks for the pics man. That looks like it held up pretty good overall and that knife definitely has some character. Like I said in the OP, having never owned anodized aluminum scaled knives I just didn't know what to expect. I don't buy my knives for "looks" but at the same time when I buy an olive drab blur, I bought it because I liked it better than the black one and I would hate to have all of the olive anodizing be gone after 6 months and that looks like it definitely wouldn't be the case here. Thanks again.
 
No problem, glad that I could help. Have fun with that Blur, they're the best knife you can get for their price range IMO. Don't baby it, it can take anything you throw at it, and some more. :thumbup:
 
i EDC a s30 blur and it was used when i bought it the finish is holding up ok but you can tell its a user
 
I think the Blur is one of those knives that look cool with some wear on them, It's a sleek design.
 
This is from when the black Blur was first introduced. Since then, it's been in a lot of places. Keep in mind that the only thing not stock is the torsion bar (which I've removed) and the Trac-Tec was replaced about two years ago.

The blade coating is almost all gone, but the edge and tip are still there...
008-12_zpsc581700e.jpg

(In this photo, you can see a small chip near the tip.)

It's been thrown across concrete, run over with a HMMWV, and stabbed into many things...
009-9_zps9d81a92c.jpg


Spine side...
005-16_zpsb808988a.jpg


It's also made several holes in a Mahdi militia member, and was used as a spear while tied to a pole.
007-14_zpsb89f813e.jpg


Locking side...
006-14_zps8e0d5983.jpg


Blade centering is still pretty darn good...
011-9_zps71c6bac4.jpg


As is the lock-up...
010-9_zpsd924d100.jpg


It would take too long to list everything this Blur has gone through, but as you can see, it holds up very well. Lock-up is still solid. No blade play (I used blue Loc-Tite). Still sharpens up easily. Nothing is loose or rattling. Still opens smooth.
 
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