Microtech applying dlc over serrations?

Does it make sense to apply dlc coating after sharpening serrations?

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j715shorty

j715shorty

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Feb 4, 2016
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I’ve noticed that Microtech has been applying their DLC coating AFTER the serrated portion is sharpened on many of their “Shadow” models. This causes the serrations to not be very sharp. Microtech did agree to resharpen for me and did a fantastic job. However I’ve never seen any other manufacturer do this so my question to everyone out there is; am I crazy or does this not make much sense?
 

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It looks just like a remnant of an out of order manufacturing process, and I've never heard of dlc being used to help with retention.

That said, it does bring to mind Buck's Ion Fusion thing from the 90s where they coated up to the edge and sharpened one side only, the idea being the coating would improve edge retention. T tiguy7 has a good description and history here including comparing to dlc https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/buck-collectible.592421/#post-20864158.

To make sense to that purpose, like Buck I'd think the dlc should go to the edge only on the side opposite the scallops though.
 
j715shorty said:
my question to everyone out there is; am I crazy or does this not make much sense?
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Can't have any shiny bits showing when you are trying to de-animate the zombie sentries at night....
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j715shorty said:
I’ve noticed that Microtech has been applying their DLC coating AFTER the serrated portion is sharpened on many of their “Shadow” models. This causes the serrations to not be very sharp. Microtech did agree to resharpen for me and did a fantastic job. However I’ve never seen any other manufacturer do this so my question to everyone out there is; am I crazy or does this not make much sense?
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I have several Cold Steel, fully serrated, with DLC that covers the whole edge on the side opposite the serrations . But not over the serrations themselves .

Kind of a chisel grind , not sure about the proper terminology .

I wouldn't want the actual cutting edges DLC covered , on a user knife .
 
DocJD said:
I have several Cold Steel, fully serrated, with DLC that covers the whole edge on the side opposite the serrations . But not over the serrations themselves .

Kind of a chisel grind , not sure about the proper terminology .

I wouldn't want the actual cutting edges DLC covered , on a user knife .
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DLC on the micro edge should increase its wear resistance. My BuckCote blades have increased wear resistance, and they are inherently sharper by virtue of the added acuteness of the single bevel.
 
tiguy7 said:
DLC on the micro edge should increase its wear resistance. My BuckCote blades have increased wear resistance, and they are inherently sharper by virtue of the added acuteness of the single bevel.
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IDK ? So you are not supposed to sharpen , or what ...? 🤔
 
That's weird... I only have a couple serrated blades and none of them have coatings on the serrations.
 
I would love DLC coated blade after serrations are done.
The DLC coating cannot affect in any way the sharpness of the serrations,
it will only preserve it longer.
 
fonedork said:
They probably do this intentionally, for looks, and figure 99% of their customers won't use the knives anyway
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This, 100%.

The combo edge always looked odd to me, and DLC over the serrations looks more symmetrical, IMO. I have some Microtechs like this, they have all opened some Amazon packages and some occasional light duty stuff. Basically they all look new and the serrations are pristine 🤣
 
DocJD said:
IDK ? So you are not supposed to sharpen , or what ...? 🤔
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What happens with the BuckCote blades is that softer substrate wears away in preference to the harder coat, and the blade is somewhat self sharpening. I have figured out how to sharpen BuckCote style blades with plain edges but not the serrated ones.
 
If you were trying to measure sharpness this would affect it for sure because you have somthing on the knife's edge making is wider than it should be. In practical use it probably doesn't make much difference.
 
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REC applies their DLC with 3-5 microns thickness, that's not much. Assuming MT does similar thickness, it will possibly affect a straight edge,
but it's only beneficial for serrations because of the lubricating effect it has.
 
slyraven said:
Please explain what dlc is and why they use it
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DLC = diamond like carbon (coating).

Why does any manufacturer use coatings? I am not a fan of any coating. They look like crap after use (and many before use), and no coating does anything to protect the exposed edge of the blade anyway.
 
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I like DLC. It's the only coating that's actually durable and imo looks nice, plus if you've ever been cutting something outside in Arizona on a bright sunny day and accidentally get a glimpse of the sun off your blade it is quite blinding. DLC on the other hand will just give off a nice pleasant shimmer to light.That being said I don't see why it would hurt to apply it to the serrations, like others have said it's not like it can't be sharpened off over time
 
I don't think it's beneficial at all since a diamond rod will remove the DLC coating.

The serrations don't look bad at all but there were some companies that had very nice serrations that go unrecognized. The "Alternate Serrations" on some old Meyerco knives. Fox Knives has some serrations with a high bevel that dig in really well. Fox put those same serrations on the contract knives they did for Combative Edge and the XM Series for Ontario Knife Company.
 
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