Spydies with different levels of polished blades

[goodeyesniper]

Just kind of curious if there are certain models known for having a more finely polished finish on the blade than the average spydie. The Spydercos I started off with all had the typical sort of satin type finish (I guess that's what you would call it?) usually with quite visible grind lines, though different blades/steels show the grinds to different extents. Now, as I don't collect knives as safe queens, and quite accept the scratches and wear that come with using them, I've always liked that sort of rough satin finish compared to a mirror polish.

However I got a Large Wayne Goddard lightweight second hand here on BF, and the first thing I noticed was it had an almost mirror polish on it. Still had evidence of grind lines, but still polished quite high. Granted the guy who owned it before me could have done it, but I kind of don't think that's the case As I was admiring it tonight, it just got me wondering if they only do this for certain models, or certain steels, or if they no longer go for this level of finish at all.

 

[MJF]

Some steels have rougher textures than others. My M4 Manix has very noticeable grind lines, whereas my M390 PM2's and S35VN Native 5's grind lines are barely noticeable. I think this has more to do with the grain of the steel than the finish. I could be wrong though.

 

[The Deacon]

Definitely more common with some steels than others. Spyderco knives in AUS-6, AUS-8, GIN-1 and ATS-34 tend to have a near mirror finish more often than those in other steels. So do the 420J2 outer layers on the laminated ZDP-189/420J2 blades, but they scratch so damn easily that they don't stay that way long on a user. Granted that both ATS-34 and laminated ZDP tend to be used on higher priced knives, which may also be a factor in how much attention is paid to their finish, but a lot of the older Spydercos in AUS-6, AUS-8, and GIN-1, even "lower end" ones, were near mirror polished, at least on the flats.