Patina, not sure how to feel.

DocJD said:
Cheer up ! Most humans are Animists , despite their cynical denials . Why else collect knives or other stuff beyond functional need ? Or keep old junk from family , friends or somebody "important" ? :)
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Thanks JD,

More often than not, cheering up is exactly what I need to do. Said and done simply.

I believe you're right, despite those denials. My wedding band reads "From Dot to Pete." Circa 1953. Was my grandfather's.

Patina is good, it adds character.
 
SpySmasher said:
No Knives Go To Heaven
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To paraphrase Will Rogers, “If there are no knives in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went."

As for patinas... bring it on!!! I like mine natural, and I like mine deep, natural, and totally non-uniform.
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Patina does protect against rust. I've seen it too many times to deny it. My son has accidentally left a few knives and tools in the back yard... I found them with the mower a couple of times. The darkly patina'd carbon steel stuff was fine, just darker and maybe needing a sharpening. "Stainless" stuff was a speckled up, rusty mess.

That said, I absolutely hate forced patinas. I've said it many times: patinas should be "earned", not "forced". Just my opinion.
 
91bravo said:
Natural
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Natural looks so much better imho.
 
Murphjd25 said:
I love Patinas, shows character and that you actually use your tools!
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one can use a carbon steel knife and not get a patina on its. waxing or even oiling has that effect. I have hard used carbon knives that are still clean steel.

many of the patinas I see on here are forced and look poor to me. the natural ones look far better to my eye but as usual, too each their own.
 
jbmonkey said:
one can use a carbon steel knife and not get a patina on its. waxing or even oiling has that effect. I have hard used carbon knives that are still clean steel.

many of the patinas I see on here are forced and look poor to me. the natural ones look far better to my eye but as usual, too each their own.
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Exactly, to each their own. I like both forced and natural patinas. Sorry you don't like my forced patinas. That's what's nice about this knife hobby, there's something for everyone out there!
 
If I had my druthers, all of my blades would look brand new after years of use. I am not a fan of patinas on a knife. I don't need knife character.

I always view a patina on a blade as a negative (in terms of value) if looking at a "used" knife.

Added: I might add, I compare it to a new car. I want it to always look absolutely brand new.
 
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22-rimfire said:
If I had my druthers, all of my blades would look brand new after years of use. I am not a fan of patinas on a knife. I don't need knife character.

I always view a patina on a blade as a negative (in terms of value) if looking at a "used" knife.
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A patina is a positive thing in my book!
 
Natural patina. This knife is over 100 years old I believe. Obviously I have no idea how it was used or stored in the past, but I use it at work from time to time and it just lives in it's leather sheath in my toolbox. Also, there is no a/c in this shop.
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91bravo said:
Exactly, to each their own. I like both forced and natural patinas. Sorry you don't like my forced patinas. That's what's nice about this knife hobby, there's something for everyone out there!
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no need to be sorry. you like 'em that's all the matters. who cares what I like or dont.:)
 
danbot said:
Natural patina. This knife is over 100 years old I believe. Obviously I have no idea how it was used or stored in the past, but I use it at work from time to time and it just lives in it's leather sheath in my toolbox. also, there is no a/c in this shop.
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do ya know its 100 years old from searching on the internet.:)
 
danbot said:
I read on this forum and elsewhere that the William Rogers company manufactured from 1830-1855.
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That would make the knife at least 150 years old..... might not merit the tool box storage. We need to treat our elders with respect. ;)
 
22-rimfire said:
That would make the knife at least 150 years old..... might not merit the tool box storage. We need to treat our elders with respect. ;)
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Well, it seems to be holding up just fine. Had it in there for about 10 years now. And its got some really nice company too! 12 inch vernier calipers and a Carbone Opinel !:):thumbsup:
 
Ashevillain said:
This is intended to be mostly in the realm of opinion but for folks who enjoy patina on their blades. I have a few knives in tool steels (ie: a2, d2, 1095) and I’ve always kept them as unstained as I could, but recently I wonder why. I know resale value probably is hurt but functionally is there any reason to continue the oiling and rubbing? Such as maybe a stained/patina blade would have more friction going through stuff.

Tl;dr help me decide whether to keep blades shiny lol
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(dont make remarks about members oiling and rubbing anything … ):D

On a more serious note; maintain your knives to keep them rust free. Patina will occur on some knives - use the knives and embrace the patina.
As for whether it looks good or not; personally, I kind of like the natural patina as seen on some knives both in this thread and for example on a Spyderco Super Blue.
 
danbot said:
Well, it seems to be holding up just fine. Had it in there for about 10 years now. And its got some really nice company too! 12 inch vernier calipers and a Carbone Opinel !:):thumbsup:
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This.
I use my WWII Cattaraugus 225Q and its still going strong.
A while ago, I gave a vintage Western (I want to say in the vein of the L66) along with a leather sheath I made to an elderly family member so he could use it to replace a similar knife, which was in his toolbox for a lifetime until it was worn down and eventually lost.
These old knives were made to be used and they work.
 
After a while I have gotten into living instead of caring. Now a scratch and patina on a knife or watch tends to tell a story rather than make me cringe. A multi layered story of cuisine and tobacco, people and places, laughter and crying.
 
I have an old pocketknife with a brass bolsters that I cleaned a little too well, resulting in polished brass look. It looked way to new after that. Now I am waiting another 20 years till the brass discolors again... I will not polish those bolsters ever again.
 
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