Photos Naked Blades

[leghog]

I don't care one way or the other as it has no effect on function. One of the best knives I've ever own is blade etched.

 

[Postlapsaria]

There are a number of knives I've passed on solely due to etching.

 

[5K Qs]

I don't care one way or the other as it has no effect on function. ...

I tend to agree with L leghog . A blade etch (or lack thereof) has never influenced my knife purchasing decisions.

Having said that, I also agree with Gary about the appeal of frosted blade etchings.

I like the frosted look on the Boker for some reason

G2

- GT

 

[Modoc ED]

This is a GEC #66 Calf Roper that came with a God-awful etch on the Clip Blade. Bill Howard should have been embarrassed to put this one out with the larger than life etch.

As it came and after I removed the grotesque etch.

 

[joeradza]

This is a GEC #66 Calf Roper that came with a God-awful etch on the Clip Blade. Bill Howard should have been embarrassed to put this one out with the larger than life etch.

As it came and after I removed the grotesque etch.

I know that seems to be the majority opinion, but when I owned that one I loved the etch. I guess it took me back to when I was kid, except instead of some cheap comic book knife I had something of real quality. Too bad I'm not a fan of multi blade knives.

 

[Will Power]

It all depends on the etch surely? Or the blade stamp, most of which are VERY desirable.

It's like saying you don't like handwriting Some people still have beautiful interesting handwriting others' look awful and a lot of people in the Digi Age won't be able to write at all....

So, it's aesthetics which are fortunately subjective

The other point is, do we spend a lot of time squinting at the blades whether it has or has not an etch? And with carbon, it polishes off with ease or is lost to crypto rust-sorry, patina- anyway..

I think a lot of etches can look really nice, 2 GECs stick in my mind. The beautiful Crown Lifter on a 15 run ( a not so subtle dig at Queen maybe?) and their extinct Squirrels and Acorns on the hen's tooth stainless

Ultimately, it's like asking do you like plain tiles or patterned, it depends and yes I like both, depending

Then there's blade stamping, can look crude but use a decent font style and it's a work of art.

 

[kai76]

It’s an old school thing I feel and like both etched and naked blades depending what the etch or stamp is I guess. On most knives, I prefer no etching but I do like the deep stamping on this blade.

 

[WoodManGM]

This is a GEC #66 Calf Roper that came with a God-awful etch on the Clip Blade. Bill Howard should have been embarrassed to put this one out with the larger than life etch.

As it came and after I removed the grotesque etch.

What process do you use to remove the etch?

 

[Minnesota Man]

A rust "eraser" will knock off most stamps. Can be found for around 5 bucks!

 

[gaj999]

What process do you use to remove the etch?

I've used fine wet/dry sandpaper.

 

[RayseM]

onojoe - I'm with you. Absolutely to my way of thinking - less is more
(This is where I could add a 1/2 dozen emoji to my post for irony)

Writing on the blade, or worse, on the handle has often turned me away from an otherwise decent knife. There are always other knives. My feeling is that if I carry your ad (on a knife or a T shirt or most other things) you should give me a discount. Thanks for asking.

Ray

 

[12B10]

For an everyday working knife I agree with leghog, the etching doesn't affect functionality so is moot. My first comment had more to do with I consider "dress" knives. I have a small collection of these for dressier occasions and etchings tend to cheapen the look imo. I do have a Case Yellowhorse custom that has "Yellowhorse" etched on the blade. I wish it didn't, but the knife itself is so purdy it doesn't matter much to me.

 

[Modoc ED]

What process do you use to remove the etch?

Flitz and a terry cloth rag.

 

[Markeologist]

Just use the knife and the etch will fade...often into a very subtle condition where you have to tilt the blade to see it. I think one reason companies use the etch is as a means for the owner to demonstrate that the knife is new and unused. I've seen folks on the secondary market offer knives for sale, saying they were new but the etch is faded or gone...indicating that the blade was used and cleaned up for resale.

 

[tongueriver]

I agree with Will Power; there are good and bad etches, good and bad stamps, and, especially good and BAD shields. I take it one knife at a time.

 

[Hickory n steel]

They're not a deal breaker, but I guess the fact that I can't wait for them to wear off or fade says exactly how I feel about them.

 

[tongueriver]

delete

 

[Rob47]

Not a deal breaker, but in my humble opinion, blades are made for cutting and decoration adds nothing useful for me.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Most etches, I usually find them tacky, garish, blocky, oversized or just ugly; but sometimes they can look OK, if tastefully done and somewhat understated. The previously-highlighted 'frosted' Boker looks good; I have a few like that.

And some deeply-stamped blades are iconic to me, like Opinel. If I ever saw an Opinel without the stamp, I'd likely think it to be a fake or knock-off of some kind.

 

[afishhunter]

I only have ... four knives with an etch.
Two are a Rough Rider 'Zombie Nick' with "Friends Don't Let Friends Eat Friends" etched on the main blade. (Cute )
A 1960's Ulster "Official BSA" Scout knife (Etch is almost worn off)
Case CV Canoe (the Patina has pretty much eliminated the guy paddeling a canoe etch)

I don't really care one way or another about a blade etch. The presence or lack of one has never been a deal breaker for me.