Patterned Blades - Good, Bad, Ugly?

[b00n]

Depends on the knife for me, the above looks good. Then again I don't like damascus/damasteel blades most of the time, so I'm a weird camp myself.

 

[Isaiah5411]

Thanks for all the great replies. Can’t say I’m surprised at all the on the idea. Kinda like asking Germans what they think about American cars. Ha...

I’m relatively new to the EDC knife thing but have taken the bait hook, line and sinker. I have friends who are worried about me now after having bought a number of knives (total is confidential) over the past 2 months.

I’m trying out the different sizes, locking mechanisms and blade shapes. After a while, you start to feel like a mosquito at a nudist colony...where do you start...or stop??

I got on Benchmade’s site after ordering a “like new “ Mini Barrage on eBay for $85 which I just received yesterday (and was like new!). Wanted to try out the assisted Axis lock. Man...does that blade fly out! I like the non-assisted knives but this one is nice for a change.

But...it’s pretty plain Jane (like my black and satin Mini Grip, just locked and loaded) and thought the 585 might be a fun project knife.

We’ll see when football season comes around. Ha...

 

[jceckrosh]

I don't like coated/patterned blades generally. I won't buy a black/dlc/etc. blade since to me it shows wear so prominently. I do love San Mai and some non-tightly patterned Damascus. I don't like flamed or striped blades either.

All that said, I do have 2 coated/patterned knives, both Crusader Forge knives. I've considered disassembling and sanding the coatings off, or down to a "ghost" level, but obviously that changes their resale value significantly.

 

[b00n]

Thanks for all the great replies. Can’t say I’m surprised at all the on the idea. Kinda like asking Germans what they think about American cars. Ha...

I like American cars, the trucks are a bit big for our roads here but they are cool looking. I recall three RAMs, a C6 and a C7 Vette, at least three Mustangs (two last gen, one current gen), an Avalanche and at least one last gen Camaro as well as a CTS (V6) down the street. Unfortunately due to rarity they are all pretty expensive here, the Mustangs are obtainable since they've been available as EU Models. Since...~09 ? I don't think US cars really have an overly bad rep here, there is still the whole "plastic interior" thinking that's stuck which is in large part still true since most cars from the states that are driving around here are the one's who are still from the pre-upgrade era, so to speak.
Now back to your regular programming, so I don't derail the topic too much.

 

[SpySmasher]

I’m relatively new to the EDC knife thing but have taken the bait hook, line and sinker. I have friends who are worried about me now after having bought a number of knives (total is confidential) over the past 2 months.

I’m trying out the different sizes, locking mechanisms and blade shapes. After a while, you start to feel like a mosquito at a nudist colony...where do you start...or stop??

Wait until you enter the AFTERMARKET knife customization rabbit hole. Blade regrinds. Custom scales. Custom cerakote.

Then there's the full custom knives ...

 

[Isaiah5411]

I like American cars, the trucks are a bit big for our roads here but they are cool looking. I recall three RAMs, a C6 and a C7 Vette, at least three Mustangs (two last gen, one current gen), an Avalanche and at least one last gen Camaro as well as a CTS (V6) down the street. Unfortunately due to rarity they are all pretty expensive here, the Mustangs are obtainable since they've been available as EU Models. Since...~09 ? I don't think US cars really have an overly bad rep here, there is still the whole "plastic interior" thinking that's stuck which is in large part still true since most cars from the states that are driving around here are the one's who are still from the pre-upgrade era, so to speak.
Now back to your regular programming, so I don't derail the topic too much.

I like (some) American cars, too, including those you named. My point was many Germans will “politely” explain how they prefer THEIR cars.

No worries on the derailment. I believe I opened that door.

 

[Isaiah5411]

Wait until you enter the AFTERMARKET knife customization rabbit hole. Blade regrinds. Custom scales. Custom cerakote.

Then there's the full custom knives ...

Noooooo..... Unread, unread...!!!

 

[colin.p]

An image of Oprah on the knife might have looked good at one point.

Hey now, you may have hit on something....

 

[gazz98]

Patterned blades aren't for me. I like dings and scratches in a blade. It shows it has been used.

 

[SharpieB]

On a cheaper knife I have no problem with some patterned blades like the tiger stripe pattern on my $30 Kershaw. I wouldn’t pay for the same pattern on a $300 ZT though as it cheapens the look for me. YMMV, my $0.02, etc.

 

[ucfgrad93]

I'm not a fan of it, but wouldn't look down at someone who liked them.

 

[Dadpool]

Every time I think there's some line in the sand I won't cross, some knife feature I could never like in a million years, along comes a knife that proves me wrong.

For patterned blades, I think the ZT 0301/03 and ZT 0350 series with the tiger-striped blades are just fantastic. Never something I'd have imagined liking, but somehow on those knives it just plain works.

 

[DocJD]

My favorite , worry free finish is just a nice natural patina with normal use scratches and scrapes . Almost anything else , I tend to obsess over protecting or fixing up . Plus most patterns just look contrived to me . More knife art than working knife .