Not a Patina man

My issue with a patina isn't so much the look but that it makes the blade slightly rough. If a blade has a stonewashed or high polish finish, is it possible to get a patina while maintaining a slick/smooth feeling blade?

I know if you use a polish on a patina it will help make it more smooth but I've never gotten back to a state as before the patina. Will enough polishing make the blade smooth again while leaving the patina or will it always have a slightly rough feel?

I don't have much experience with patinas and have only experienced one on a high carbon blade and maybe it was on the more extreme end and a smooth finish is possible? Or maybe steels with some chromium such as D2 will allow a more smooth patina? Maybe I'm remembering my experience incorrectly?
 
jc57 said:
If your lifestyle or work environment means your knife is exposed to moisture or sweat a lot, then it may have more of chance to rust or patina no matter what you cut with it. So if you work outdoors in a warm summer environment and you get sweaty and the knife is in your jeans pocket, it may get some rust spots or patina.

I carried a Case CV Small Texas Jack daily for about 6 months, and unless I used it for fruit slicing, it never developed a patina, nor pitting, nor rust. I did put a little oil on it about once a week (just a small drop in the joints, and then rubbed the excess onto the blades before wiping off most of it). When it did develop a patina, from me intentionally doing so by using it to cut up fruit on a regular basis, it was easy to later polish off with Simichrome metal polish and paper towels.

GEC knives have reactive backsprings, too, so maybe use a scrap of paper towel and a wooden coffee stirrer (or toothpick, or any small stick-like tool) to spread the oil down into the bladewells once in a while. Just a little bit - you don't want an oily knife in your pocket. Essentially you are using the paper towel to mop up any oil that flows from the drop in the pivots, which spreads it out and leaves a thin film while removing most of it.
Click to expand...

Once again, thanks for the great info John. I don't think I'd get one for everyday, all day use or as my work knife. I have the same Case Texas Jack as you and never had a problem with it. However, I was definitely picky about when and where I carried it (as well as my other CV Case knives). I'm not sure why it's such a mental thing for me :o I reckon I should just get one and respect it like I do all my knives and go from there. As the saying goes, take care of your tools and they'll take care of you...
 
How about you keep an eye on the exchange for a user CV or inexpensive GEC in 1095 (one in there for $50 right now) and just consider it a learning experience. Let it patina, rust, pit or whatever comes natural.
- Don't get me wrong, I am Not saying to misuse the knife, just learn what it will take to keep a user in good condition in your living and working environments.
Oil it, wipe it after you are finished, clean the joints/well when you see debris in there, etc. But above all, look at it as an inexpensive experiment and enjoy the experience for what it is and what you will gain from it.

It is harder to treat something as a "user" when you have a tie to it that is more than it being "just a knife/tool".
 
I have a few CV Case's, but I don't carry them often. I forced a patina on a large stockman and didn't like it that much. The patina looked great, as far as patinas go, but it wasn't for me. I think I'll start carrying another one and see what happens under normal use. I've always oiled them and they look good. There's no doubt I'm still going to get a GEC 72. I guess I just never wanted to worry about rust so I've stuck to stainless. My second job is in a furniture warehouse and there's times I sweat non stop so carbon steel wasn't the best option.
 
I linked two GEC 72's in stainless earlier, so you are not beat if you want that pattern in particular.
 
I saw that, and that'd be perfect. Can't find where I'd be able to grab one though.
 
Shoot an email to Witty @ USAMadeBlade, Mike @ Collectorknives, Derek @ Knivesshipfree and other supporting vendors, as well as posting in the WTB section.

There are others in the WTB section, but since you aren't a paid member, you can't see the posts.

Ask around in the traditional subforum for leads. They have a general chat thread in the stickies. Post in there asking how common they are, or other stainless but similar patterns, etc.
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Especially since it was made in 2011, you will have to hunt for it. But, when you find it...

Welcome to the sickness. This is how it starts...
 
I prefer a knife that always looks factory new. If a patina develops, so be it. I don't worry about it. I would never force a patina on a knife as I see no point for me.
 
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