Patina on Case "SS" Steel?

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ErikMB

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Jul 27, 2017
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I am just wondering about this. I am enjoying my Case Sowbelly Stockman with "SS" ("surgical steel" or "stainless steel"?) and nice burnt cream looking bone scales. No quality issues on this one. The sheepsfoot blade is especially solid. Great knife.

Does this steel ever develop a patina?

It is super sharp and catches all my fingerprints. I love it. Just wondering if the blade steel will ever become less slick.
 
Stainless steels won't oxidize like carbon steels do
But they can develop stains and discoloration depending on what you use it on and your sense of urgency with cleaning the blade off.
It can also get surface rust if the conditions meet. I got an emerson government Mule 154CM delivered to me by an authorized seller and it has surface rust
But he also lives near Mt Shasta so the cold wet air could have done it
Always depends
 
No, but over time depending on what you use it for, it will tend to develop a random assortment of scratches. That is not exactly a patina but it will add some character. You would need to intentionally scuff the surface with an abrasive if you wanted to reduce the mirror polish of the blades.
 
Thanks, JC. I like how it looks, it's just amusing seeing all the finger prints and stuff. Also, just want to know how things work in general.
 
Gotta decide, collector or user?
Ultimately can't be both
Real Collectors don't using their stuff
A collection is a presentation of oddities and curios, so if you want to use your tool use it up
Scratches dents, small chips, some stains or discoloring all add to the knifes story
 
I do both. This one is a use knife. I have one just like it in my display box. :-)
 
I usually put a brushed finish on the bolsters and blades of my traditionals that come polished, often right out of the box. Cuts down on the fingerprints and reflections, I dig the look, it's a small thing I can do to make something my own, and I find the process of doing it strangely meditative.

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Case's Tru-sharp is 420HC, and it's very stain resistant. You're more likely to get rust tarnish and red pepper spots than you are an actual patina, and that'd come from serious abuse and/or neglect. Keep the blades clean, and maybe coat them with mineral oil or other protectant if you're doing something like carrying it while jogging by the ocean during the summer, and you'll be just fine.
 
I like that brushed look. Sorry to be D-U-M dumb but how do you do it?

I have used steel wool and it mattes it down but not in a brushed effect with parallel lines.
 
ErikMB said:
I like that brushed look. Sorry to be D-U-M dumb but how do you do it?

I have used steel wool and it mattes it down but not in a brushed effect with parallel lines.
Click to expand...
First off, I'm no expert, just someone who likes to fool around with knives, so I'm certain there are better ways to do it than I do.

I used a 3M product that is like sandpaper applied to a sanding block that looks like a sponge (it's labeled 220 grit but seems a little finer than 220 sandpaper). I have also used sandpaper, but it helps to be on something that has just a touch of give to it (like a leather strop for example), especially for rounding it around the bolsters. Also, for the bolsters, I tape the rest off with painters tape. Then I just drag the knife along the block in a straight line from one end to the other, repeatedly until I am happy with the results. Keeping it straight and working in straight lines will give you the parallel lines. The finished look makes it seem like it might be hard to achieve, but trust me it's EZPZ, I've yet to screw one up.
 
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