Patinas. Are you a control freak square or a apathetic free spirit hippie?

[DerekH]

A blend of both. I force a nice dark patina on it at first, then let it manage on it's own from there. Has worked out very nicely for me.

 

[mac_heath]

I strip the coating off the blade (only, now) because I find it gets in the way of my woodcraft. I don't mess with patina because it's only going to come off with use and sharpening, plus my reprofiling jobs usually leave it looking ugly anyway.

PS - I resent the implication that this makes me a hippie