Need some help with Stonwashed/Polished/Beadblasted

[freq18hz]

Hi all,

I searched and was unable to find the answer I'm looking for. I'm buying a small Sebenza 21 and debating the Stonewashed blade vs. Polished, and the Beadblasted handle vs. Polished.

Which blade finish, and which handle finish is more durable?

I've heard that the Polished blade and Beadblasted handle show scratches the most.


Can anyone please advise?


-Freq

 

[dalefuller]

Well... from my experience of 3+ years with EDC Sebbies, a stonewashed blade shows usage marks less than a polished one but they're still gonna pick some up if you use the knife at all. My wife EDCs a small silver Dog Paw Sebbie. That's a beadblasted handle and a polished blade. Her blade shows some scratches now from use. The handle has a few marks now even though she carries it in a leather slipcase.

I've carried a variety of regulars, Classics, and 21s, but they've all had stonewashed blades. My knives get used a bit more than hers and they show a bit less on the blade than hers because of the finish. The handles get marked up a bit no matter what. My small blue Dog Paw Sebbie has a polished handle and gets limited use, but even that one shows some marks on the handle after several years of occasional use.

I'd say that your best bet is a micarta 21 with a stonewashed blade. The blade finish will stay cleaner looking longer and the beadblasted handles can always be reblasted by CRK to make them look new again.

But honestly, I like the marks as long as I put them there. They're reminders of something that the knife and I did together.

 

[TLR]

Didn't you just sell a Large 21 because it was to small for your hands?

As to your question I think that the polished blade and blasted handles are the best combination. The polished blade can be re polished if they are little scratches and if they're big scratches they will show up regardless. I don't like how the polished handles show tiny scratches and oil and sweat marks so easily. The bead blasted can be rubbed down with fine grit sandpaper and in my opinion show small scratches and handling marks less. YMMV.

 

[Josh K]

Blasted handles and tumbled (stonewashed) blade. :thumbup:

You can take a bit of scotchbrite to the handles to remove any scratches you might come across and it's easy to get them reblasted by CRK if you ever want.

 

[freq18hz]

Didn't you just sell a Large 21 because it was to small for your hands?

No, I've never owned a Sebenza before.

Blasted handles and tumbled (stonewashed) blade. :thumbup:

You can take a bit of scotchbrite to the handles to remove any scratches you might come across and it's easy to get them reblasted by CRK if you ever want.

Does anyone know off hand if CRK will re-blast micarta handle knives?


-Freq

 

[Josh K]

No, I've never owned a Sebenza before.





Does anyone know off hand if CRK will re-blast micarta handle knives?


-Freq

I'm sure CRK will restore the finish on any knives they sell. They will strip and recoat the one-piece line, I'm sure they will reblast micarta handled knives.

 

[TLR]

freq18hz -
Sorry I had you mixed up with someone else. My bad!

I can tell you from having an african blackwood inlayed sebenza that the inlays do a lot to cut down on scratches. Because they protrude from the surface of the scale they do a pretty good job of keeping the ti from getting as beat up as plain handles. I'm not sure about having them reblasted though. I'm sure someone will come along shortly with more experience in that area.

 

[iamsmiling]

My experience has been that, while both blade finishes will scratch, the stonewashed actually becomes a polished finish with enough use. My small EDC Sebbie is looking pretty polished towards the tip after several years of carry and use.

I prefer the bead blasted finish to polished for the handle. It works better when wet or slippery, it is thinner in the pocket and it is easy to refinish if necessary.

The basic stonewashed blade in a bead blasted handle is remarkably subdued.