Patina v. Staining

[Low Country Dude]

I have been into knives since I was a boy, but in the last year have really gotten bitten by the bug. I just discovered this site a couple of months ago and it has been a great source of knowledge and temptation.

So, here is my questions and by no means do I want to offend anyone. I have noticed a lot of discussion related to forcing a patina on a blade. In the past I thought patina was the natural color change of a blade from say bright silver to a dull or dark gray like what is common on a CV steel CASE knife. However, some of the examples I have seen here appear to be more of a staining of the blade.

So, what am I missing is patina and staining the same thing?

 

[brets-ftw]

they are the same. now this isnt to say that blueing or anodizing or any other process is the same as forcing a patina or letting one naturally "grow"

for the science geek in ya, basically a patina is a protective layer of rust that forms on the outer layer of steel. So where red (bad) rust is Fe2O3 a patina is Fe2O4.

anything acidic will create a patina. anything and everything has been used from basic vinegar, mustard, red wine vinegrette to some crazy types like squirrel blood reduction with a bit of hydrochloric acid (1 molar I think)