Patina or No Patina?

Joined
Sep 28, 2015
Messages
567
I am just curious, how many of you keep your blades highly polished versus those of you that let the blade develop a patina? How about those who force a patina? Pictures are welcome as always!
 
I let a patina develop on carbon blades.

Here's my grandfather's Case. Natural patina over the decades.
Case%2520Copperhead%2520Open.jpg


Here's my everyday carry. Slowly developing a patina.
Ulster%2520180%2520-%2520Craftsman%25209507%2520Open.JPG
 
I like them either way (love stainless too) - I just let a blade do what it does. OH
 
I let the patina happen naturally. I do keep them lightly oiled so I do have knives with almost no patina that are decades old. I will also admit that I do not carry carbon steel knives as much during the hot humid summer months, thats SS time.
 
I'm a fat boy, so I tend to sweat a lot, so for me a patina on all my carbon steel is a must for corrosion resistance. I don't so much force a patina as encourage one along by eating lots more fruit and vegetables until the blades have a good start on one.
 
I go both ways with carbon steels:
- shiny non- EDCs stay shiny
- EDCs are left to age
- Damascus is always oiled
- I don't like forced patina generally, but did it once with diced fruits and veggies which I actually like (below).

XL76qRk.jpg
 
I love Carbon steel (1095 namely) both in the kitchen and in my pocket. Natural patina not only looks good to me but also keeps the steel from making certain foods taste a little funky. I force patina on some of the knives I make and give away either by hot vinegar or more often by simply using it in the kitchen for a week or two. Anyways, here are my personal small kitchen knives and my Cody Scout with natural patina.



Patina on the folder is still in the early phases but it shows up more in person than in the pic. Apples are tasting better and better LOL

Matt
 

Patina all the way👍
I don't exactly force a patina by deliberately putting something on it and leaving it, I just make it a point to have chicken for dinner and use my knife to cut it with the new knife.
 
Users develop a patina. When they bother me I flitz them and start over. The 99 is a nice grey. The Douk-Douk is indestructible and the Yellow Rose electric blue patina is from hot sauce.

20d6f78ca4e50b51d22096671b0844fb.jpg
 
Ive let it patina naturally, forced and kept polish over the years but on my work carry a beer scout i wipe the blade on my pants after use and when i sharpen it i run the blade flat on my strop and its starting to develop a slight polish with a faint gray patina. My weekend/evening carry is a drover and it really hasnt had a chance to patina but i imagine it will eventually and i will continue stropping like my beer scout to knock the patina down and give it a slight polish over time. This way i feel like i am letting it do its thing naturally while maintaining a nice slick slightly polished blade
 
I'll let the patina happen on users. I will gently use an SOS pad, maybe once every week or two, to kind of blend in any heavy splotching. Creates the illusion of old steel without looking too dirty. :D
 
I neither polish my blades, nor force a patina. I do oil them.
 
I may be in the minority here but I don’t like patina. To me it just looks uncared for.

When I carry 1095 blades, I always have a stainless backup for use around food or anything else that might funk up the blade.

I did use a GEC #68 Pony Jack around food, mostly apples. I’m still upset about that decision.
I have some 1095 Old Timers & Camillus knives dating from the mid 80’s that I didn’t let patina. They have just turned a very light even gray over the years. Those still look good.

I don't polish 1095 but I keep it either oiled or dry. Maybe some cardboard will shine this one up again. :D
1x7abDf.jpg
[/IMG]
 
I typically carry stainless, but on the carbon blades that I do carry with some regularity, I force a patina for protection. Carbon knives that I only carry once in a while, I just keep dry and shiney.
 
I used to like forced patina, before i really got into traditionals, carbon steel M4 and superblue. Now that im hooked on GEC and traditionals i let the patina form on its own and only on my users, i may carry something nice out of my collection but i make sure i wipe it down and oil it if i cut something that will stain
 
Back
Top