Original Bradley on the way...

B

brvheart

Joined
Oct 13, 2014
Messages
194
Well - I accidentally (in case boss woman is reading...<---- because that wasn't obvious...) sprung across a Bradley CF original. I have always wanted a CF, and always wanted a working blade. Yes I did just pick up a Pacific and a Salt I...but the Bradley was a must have. So I have chatted at length with a very good friend of mine that is quite knowledgable about how much maintenance the knife needs given that it is not stainless. I am hoping that this thought of non-stainless is not going to consume me to where I don't use the knife and it sits there unloved in a drawer or safe staring at me...

Do you guys find that steel overly in need of maintaining? I haven't had a non-stainless ever and I bought the salts because I could abuse them and put them through the ringer and throw it in a drawer and forget about it and have almost zero affect on the knife...I love those salts!!!
 
I had to work very hard to force a patina on mine, over a few days using apple cider vinegar among other things. I took mine camping and hung it over night. When I work up it was soaked with condensation. No rust formed. No problems. I'm of the opinion that you could probably treat this knife like any other stainless blade and be just fine. It's not like it's super blue or something.
 
Thanks SD!

I prefer black blades so I was going to ask the safe way to force a patina on it as well - I'm kind of a newb to all the details of blades - handling and such since a kid but uninterested in details until very recently.

Appreciate your reply :-)
 
brvheart said:
Keeping it oiled won't keep it from patina will it?
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If you are talking about a thin film of oil on the blade, then yes, it will make a patina difficult if not impossible to achieve. It is not like the blade is easy to get a patina on anyway. Honestly, if I were you, I would just use the knife and not be so worried about every little thing. Some common sense and a very infrequent drop of mineral oil on the pivot and the knife will serve you well for many years to come.
 
It should arrive by weeks end - and I can't wait really. You have basically said what my good friend said - use it and love it - a lot of people make to much of a big deal that it's not stainless, don't leave it in salt water and you'll be just fine :-)
 
I've eye-balled getting one for over a year, but too many other models were thinning out my wallet for me to pull the trigger. When I heard that they were being discontinued, I finally caved in just too see what everyone was raving about. After receiving it, within 24hrs., I purchased another as a backup and preordered the GB2 the same night. (with absolutely 0 regrets BTW, now I get it)
 
Ocarr said:
I've eye-balled getting one for over a year, but too many other models were thinning out my wallet for me to pull the trigger. When I heard that they were being discontinued, I finally caved in just too see what everyone was raving about. After receiving it, within 24hrs., I purchased another as a backup and preordered the GB2 the same night. (with absolutely 0 regrets BTW, now I get it)
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Nice!!!! I'm going to have to wait to see the Bradley in a couple days - and I also need to go do some looking at the GB2 - I haven't even looked at it.
 
This thread makes me happy. The GB is one of the best Spydies in my opinion. I'd go so far as to say it's THE best outta-Taichung.

NkC2hl9.jpg
 
It arrives tomorrow - this time tomorrow I'll be playing around with it and putting it through some paces :-)
 
Thanks Raz!

Got mine today! I only had time to open the box, look at it and the open/close the knife and now it's resting in the safe. Trouble is - will it come back out? It's freaking beautiful - I can't bring myself to abuse it...anyone else with this issue?
 
Well I would not go out and abuse it, but I would certainly use it! I don't know if this will give you any encouragement to use it, but I have a custom pocket knife by Tony Bose that is probably my most expensive knife. I bought it new, but it is a user. I have used it a lot, and it still brings a smile to my face each and every time I do. Honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way.
 
When I say "abuse" I mean use for all task that the knife in my pocket might do - like my salt pacific - I needed to cut through some sod to hide a wire - grabbed my salt with no thought and did it. I don't think I would do that with my GB1. Maybe I buy another :-)
 
Ocarr said:
I've eye-balled getting one for over a year, but too many other models were thinning out my wallet for me to pull the trigger. When I heard that they were being discontinued, I finally caved in just too see what everyone was raving about. After receiving it, within 24hrs., I purchased another as a backup and preordered the GB2 the same night. (with absolutely 0 regrets BTW, now I get it)
Click to expand...

^^ This ^^ I just bought my backup cause the thought of not having it SCARES ME :) Its tough to choose a favorite knife, but this is the one for me.

PS. GB2 on preorder... I hope the design changes made it better, but I don't think that's possible.

uc
 
I don't use my Gayle Bradley because of corrosion issues associated with the salt air and perspiration. But the steel is great for another location and the overall quality of the knife is superb.
 
Great pic, abbazaba. I finally broke down last week and bought one. It's growing on me.

 
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So what task would you NOT perform with the Bradley? As an EDC - is there something that you would steer clear from? Being in the midwest where weather is all over the place - my Salts will be in my pocket a ton of the time I think....trying to see where the Gorgeous GB1 fits in...
 
My thought is this, "A used tool never rusts". (I live ~8 miles from the Pacific and I'm not worried about it a bit) Just cut with it like you would any other knife, just don't put it to bed in salt water and it should serve you well. As far as what I wouldn't do with it, I wouldn't use it as a hammer or a crowbar! (nor a screwdriver either)
 
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