Spalting, is it a deal breaker?

Guys, the title and original post is about preference for heavy spalting versus light spalting in your decision making process when purchasing a FBF knife...not grinds...
 
I prefer the Spalting. It's one of the traits of the Fiddleback brand that make them instantly recognizable; Spalting & Bullseye. I appreciate that.
 
Hone said:
Guys, the title and original post is about preference for heavy spalting versus light spalting in your decision making process when purchasing a FBF knife...not grinds...
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The OP pointed out that the grind being high might result in a knife with better slicing characteristics due to the blade geometry, but at the loss of spalting.
Joe Duder said:
Convex grinds with heavy spalting usually mean it's a lower grind. That's fine and dandy, but for a guy that uses his blades for cutting and slicing and not so much batoning and splitting, these make for more of a apple and potato splitter than slicer. Did that make sence? The next logical solution is to go with a fuller higher grind with less spalting. When I purchase these high grinds, I'm always happy with the way they perform. But, they don't have the beauty or pop or mojo that the more spalted blades have. This lack of flare usually pushes me to release the fiddleback back into the wild. Sometimes the lower convex grinds can be spaltless. These, IMO, can give off a incomplete look. Aesthetics are very important with a knife purchase, but how important?

I've seen high grind and spaltless Fiddlebacks sit stagnant on the Exchange, Flea Market and Fiddleback Friday. Even the more popular variants like the Bushfinger and Bushcrafter hang out for a bit if they aren't rocking the 3D goodness. I can only assume that I'm not the only one that finds spalting more desirable than the same variant with less or no spalting?
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For Joe there appears to be a dilemma for performance or esthetics. I think that grinds are defiantly part of the discussion.
 
Is the salting done with a forging hammer or with gun blue and bleach?

This would be done before grinding, so yes the amount of salting does depend on the grind height, but has nothing to do with performance.

Nick
 
Good reading here. I've never really been compelled to buy or not buy a fiddleback based on the spalting. I'm not even sure if the spalting even has a function or if it's just aesthetic. That being said, I now own 2 scandis which obviously have more spalting and I like the contrast where the grind transitions. I consider the handle material most when purchasing and I like a higher grind, I think it looks cleaner. So I guess I prefer darker spalting but with a higher grind so the amount of splated steel is minimal. Lol, I feel even more confused after writing this:)
 
Always gone for whichever appeals to me. Its a knife and if its sharp it'll cut.
I really appreciate Andys honesty in explaining the grid heights randomness rather than wrapping it in something mysterious:) visually love the spalting though.
 
chavez556 said:
Is the salting done with a forging hammer or with gun blue and bleach?

This would be done before grinding, so yes the amount of salting does depend on the grind height, but has nothing to do with performance.

Nick
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Spalted Steel is a proprietary technique that I discovered a few years back. It is not done with chemicals.
 
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