Patina, not sure how to feel.

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.

 

I love Patinas, shows character and that you actually use your tools!

 

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.

 

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.

 

Natural looks so much better imho.

 

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.

 

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!

 

No, knives go to heaven.

 

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.

 

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.

 

no need to be sorry. you like 'em that's all the matters. who cares what I like or dont.

 

do ya know its 100 years old from searching on the internet.

 

I read on this forum and elsewhere that the William Rogers company manufactured from 1830-1855.

 

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.

 

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 !

 

(dont make remarks about members oiling and rubbing anything … )

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.

 

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.