not2sharp
Platinum Member
- Joined
- Jun 29, 1999
- Messages
- 20,483
Patina is the discoloration of a steel surface from oxidation. Gun bluing is a common form that appears naturally over time, especially on high carbon steel blades. Over time patina can build up to protect the underlying metal. There are ways to induce patina by using various acids, but the induced finish never can be confused with natural pagination over time.
One of my favorite effects, is a rare patination that I have seen on very old knives that are probably well over 200 years old. For whatever reason the surface of these knives sometimes appears rusted and pitted, but it is absolutely glassy smooth to the touch. A closer examination reveals that the pitted layer seems covered by a transparent crystal layer that can be heavy enough to cause a parallax shift as you change your point of view. Someone once described this to me as a form of carbon leaching Resulting in calcite and silicon hydrates.
Have any of you experienced this and is this something that can be intentionally induced on modern knives?
n2s
One of my favorite effects, is a rare patination that I have seen on very old knives that are probably well over 200 years old. For whatever reason the surface of these knives sometimes appears rusted and pitted, but it is absolutely glassy smooth to the touch. A closer examination reveals that the pitted layer seems covered by a transparent crystal layer that can be heavy enough to cause a parallax shift as you change your point of view. Someone once described this to me as a form of carbon leaching Resulting in calcite and silicon hydrates.
Have any of you experienced this and is this something that can be intentionally induced on modern knives?
n2s
