Stone Washed finish

[silverbullets]

So can anyone tell me what this is? It looks like a patina, does it help with corrosion or just for looks
thanks

 

[toker]

Looks. You can still develop a patina with it, but you'll have to take care of it to avoid rust.

 

[David Brown]

In my experience stone wash is much more rust resistance that satin
as all the little hills and valleys from the sanding striations have been peaned over, it also has a surface hardening effect.

 

[lmcq784]

It is not a patina. Imagine a piece of steel put in a large tumbler with very hard stones.

 

[ScoMa]

We need some HD pics in here.

 

[lmcq784]

It's a nice finish... Besides some mild surface hardening, it also hides any marking or scratches from use... Because it's essentially what it is. Lots of repeated scratches.

 

[elof_alv]

Not sure of the process in this case, but a lot of makers/manufacturers etch the blades in acid before stonewashing, which gives a lot more (visually) pronouced effect.
Sorry, mine has been a victim of postal transfer, so I didn't have a chance to inspect in person yet.

 

[Cobalt]

I love stonewashed finish on blades and especially big blades. I remember people doing this way back and I think spyderco might have been one of the first manufacturers to use it on quality knives. I had a bunch. Imagine taking a rough finished raw busse blade and running it through a gun brass tumbler with smaller stones. Chances are Jerry and Garth are using their brass tumblers to put this finish on the knives because they ran out of brass for their reloads.

As for rust resistance, it is not as good as polished or a good satin, but it's better than comp finish or double cut. As for abrasion resistance, I like it better than all other finishes. If I had a choice it would be my preferred finish.