Opinel No. 7 - Patina

It's gettin there. The best way I have found to get a nice patina on a carbon steel blade is to simply place it it your kitchen and use it to cut up lots of different stuff. I have two Opinels in my kit. knife block and they both turned very dark (like a blued gun) pretty quickly. We cook a lot of Mexican dishes so they get used on limes a lot. Pineapple will darken a blade also. I always get a kick out of guys trying so hard to "force" a patina. Just use it - it will darken up just like Grandma's knives did. I love having an Opinel in my kitchen.
 
Getting there. But as has been said
Kitchen use will get it there faster and better looking.
 
rogatsby said:
After a vinegar bath. How does it look?
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You tell me:D

y60RlM8.jpg
 
I have cooking patinas on my #8 and #12 carbones. :thumbsup: Both were special meals for my wife and myself; the #8 was a lobster tail Christmas dinner (with lemon of course) the #12 was a whole lobster dinner for our 25th anniv. (now 36). :D I mention all of this to show that a knife with a non-forced patina can hold some nice memories (by the way, both knives cut through the lobster shells with no problem). :cool: Enjoy!
 
A good way to start a patina is to drink some gimlets, the old fashioned way, with fresh limes. For me, just gin and the juice of two limes, over ice in a lowball glass. After slicing the limes, let the knife rest on the cutting board until it is time for another round. Repeat as necessary. These days, two rounds in one sitting is enough for me. Wipe the knife down and rub a drop of oil into the blade.

Another approach is to draw a pattern on the knife with mustard. It only has to sit for an hour or so for the patina to form on the blade. With use, a more general patina will form, and the pattern will fade and blend.

31E781F6-4EE2-4338-A870-296CDD5B14FF.jpeg
 
NapalmCheese said:
Looks like you took a carbon steel knife and dipped the blade in vinegar before rinsing it off.

What do I win?
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That's what I said. I used vinegar, as stated. I know I can get that look from just using it to cut fruit, etc. Just sped up the process. It's a $10 knife, so I can experiment without worries. Turned out pretty well, IMO.
 
BladeScout said:
…..okay, so the patina is also from years and years of use (not just vinegar):);)

Just use the thing, itll get there.
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Stop with the condescension. Like I said, I used vinegar to speed up the process. That's one of the benefits of working with a $10 knife. Maybe I'll buy 3 more and get one of them looking that way naturally.

But I do use this knife a lot. Best inexpensive knife around, and it cuts better than almost any other knife I have used.
 
BladeScout said:
What?
I wasnt being condescending at all.
I was sharing an enthusiasm fo the Opinel, a knife which has quite a few fans here.
As this is GD, Ill refrain from stating my opinion of you.

And why pick my post for your hysterics. Others told you the same.
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"Others told you the same." There you go. So now you were not being condescending with your input on hard use vs. vinegar? That's funny. You are basically saying that others were condescending, but you were not, while saying at the same time that you said the same thing. But no worries bro. Enjoy and have a great week.
 
rogatsby said:
"Others told you the same." There you go. So now you were not being condescending with your input on hard use vs. vinegar? That's funny. You are basically saying that others were condescending, but you were not, while saying at the same time that you said the same thing. But no worries bro. Enjoy and have a great week.
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You see the world through vastly different glasses than the rest of us.
Strange to act hysterical about others posting in your thread. Especially as my post is on the subject and as your OP is in the form of a question.

Others told you the same because we share an enthusiasm for the Opinel. No, of course others who told you the same were NOT being condescending.

You dont address the main part of my post; what is condescending about saying, that use will achieve a nice patina?
I both used vinegar and years of use and the patina is to my liking on the Opinel. What on earth is wrong with saying that?
 
BladeScout said:
You see the world through vastly different glasses than the rest of us.
Strange to act hysterical about others posting in your thread. Especially as my post is on the subject and as your OP is in the form of a question.

Others told you the same because we share an enthusiasm for the Opinel. No, of course others who told you the same were NOT being condescending.

You dont address the main part of my post; what is condescending about saying, that use will achieve a nice patina?
I both used vinegar and years of use and the patina is to my liking on the Opinel. What on earth is wrong with saying that?
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I was never in any way "hysterical." That implies cursing, going crazy, etc. I was just making an observation. I was perhaps wrong in directing my comment at you specifically. The other comments were clearly condescending. Yours, upon reflection, may not have been. For that, I apologize. But the stream of comments basically saying "just use the thing" were condescending, and I may have lumped you into that group. Like I said, no worries, man.
 
rogatsby said:
I was never in any way "hysterical." That implies cursing, going crazy, etc. I was just making an observation. I was perhaps wrong in directing my comment at you specifically. The other comments were clearly condescending. Yours, upon reflection, may not have been. For that, I apologize. But the stream of comments basically saying "just use the thing" were condescending, and I may have lumped you into that group. Like I said, no worries, man.
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With 53 posts and 2 months here, you might want to read more and post less for a while. Kind'a learn the basic flow of things here. --KV
 
kvaughn said:
With 53 posts and 2 months here, you might want to read more and post less for a while. Kind'a learn the basic flow of things here. --KV
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Number of posts is irrelevant, unless this place is a cult and requires brainwashing. Seriously? Citing number of posts to judge?
 
Common courtesy. You will or will not get it. Your choice. Good luck with your patina'ing.--KV
 
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