Northfields with satin finish?

[sturzi]

Hey everybody,
So today my GEC family got a little bigger. Upon examining the new #62 Northfield, I was surprised (pleasantly actually, I prefer it) that it had satin finished blades. It isn't just poorly polished, but exactly the same as my other Tidioute knives.
Until now I thought that all Northfield branded knives were mirror polished, but obviously I'm wrong. So now I'm a bit confused, is this common and I missed it completely until now, or is this an odd batch?

Here's the difference:

I'd be very interested in other Northfield models with a satin finish, so post them if you have them... (pretty please?)

PS: I bet it's like the serial numbers, there's a general rule but a lot of weird exceptions

 

[pertinux]

Upon examining the new #62 Northfield, I was surprised (pleasantly actually, I prefer it) that it had satin finished blades. It isn't just poorly polished, but exactly the same as my other Tidioute knives.
Until now I thought that all Northfield branded knives were mirror polished, but obviously I'm wrong. So now I'm a bit confused, is this common and I missed it completely until now, or is this an odd batch?

My very first Northfield, my White Owl, arrived with satin-finished blades.

Because it was also my first GEC, I didn't think anything of it; only later, when I added more Northfields and saw their glossy blades did I realize my White Owl was an exception.

Brand-new:

Most recently:

When I asked about it at GEC, I was told it was possibly just a matter of their having an odd lot of satin blades that they decided to assemble in a "Northfield" package.

I wouldn't be surprised to receive a different answer depending on whom was asked. Heh.

Either way, I agree with you: I far prefer satin blades to gloss (not least for taking pictures!), and am happy that my White Owl features the same.

~ P.

 

[Woodrow F Call]

Kinda neat.

 

[sturzi]

Thanks Sarah. I certainly ogled your White Owl long enough without ever noticing, from now on I'll keep an eye out for this.
And that explanation with the odd lots definitely makes sense. (They should do that more often )

 

[AKC]

I only have one with the satin finish....

It's my understanding that most satin finish knives were a fairly limited offering.

 

[Sonnemann]

I have had a NF 68 with satin blades. I also have 2 of the single blade Farmer #73s that have satin spey blades.

Have to agree, the satin finish can look great. Sort of like Case's as-ground stainless.

 

[biglmbass]

Some, but not all, of the N'field 79s were made with satin finished blades. It seems to be a random thing with GEC. There are probably others I'm forgetting about, but I know of some 85 and 54 SFO N'fields that were assembled with satin blades because the dealer wanted them that way.

 

[Humppa]

That´s interessting. I just have two Northfields - a #66 Moose and a #12 Powderhorn Jack. Each of them has a mirror polished blade. Well, not really mirror polished, but close to it. Being honest, this is the first time I realized that there are also satin finished Northfields out there. In my experience, the satin finished blades take patina faster and better. This might be caused of the bigger surface they offer. Nice detail, for sure.

BTW: Nice pics, everyone.