The Silver Lining: A Stainless Traditional Showcase

[AusLoX]

Welcome to The Silver Lining: A Stainless Traditional Showcase

While there is undeniable charm in the "forced patina" and the greyed-out character of a well-used carbon steel blade, there is something equally special about a traditional pattern that refuses to dull its shine. Whether you’re a fan of a mirror-polished slipjoint or a modern high-performance stainless that keeps its edge through a humid afternoon, this thread is for you.

This is a space to celebrate the "Silver Lining" of the knife world: those classic patterns—Barlows, Stockmans, Trappers, and beyond—rendered in steels that resist the elements and stay as bright as the day they left the factory.

Post your photos, user stories, steel chat, share your favorites, and let’s see those Silver Linings!

 

[Steven65]

Brett Dowell CPM-154

 

[Railsplitter]

The vast majority of my knives have stainless steel blades. It’s what I prefer for various reasons.

Just a few pics that I happen to still have on my phone. Knives I have recently carried.

 

[Ironbut]

Great thread idea AusLoX
Most of my traditionals are stainless. I like brushed stainless, but have plenty of polished too.

 

[Ironbut]

And a few Bucks.

 

[AusLoX]

Great thread idea AusLoX
Most of my traditionals are stainless. I like brushed stainless, but have plenty of polished too.
View attachment 3166124View attachment 3166125View attachment 3166127View attachment 3166128

Fantastic! With summer around the corner…(it’s basically always summer here in Southern California) I decided to bring out the stainless. I searched for a stainless thread and couldn’t find one so hopefully we can leave some good pics and info here.

 

[Ironbut]

Fantastic! With summer around the corner…(it’s basically always summer here in Southern California) I decided to bring out the stainless. I searched for a stainless thread and couldn’t find one so hopefully we can leave some good pics and info here.

Our Summers here are very humid, and while I like to see a nice patina on my carbon blades, maintaining the SS is much easier.
(And....I'm lazy.)

 

[black mamba]

Here are a few pristine stainless bladed knives which are all at least 50 years old.

Schrade 897UH

Western Westmark #702

Camillus Sword Brand #78

Ulster Craftsman #9470

Queen Jumbo #49

Schrade 127UH

 

[black mamba]

This series of fixed blades from Camillus were all made in the 1970s with 440B blades.

This Russian made hunter has a stainless blade similar to BG-42 in composition, and takes a very nice polish.

 

[RickHuf]

If I have a choice I'll pick stainless every time. I'm not too picky with steel but I like to not have to worry about it.

I'm not particularly a fan of s30v or s35vn but most of the rest of the fancy stuff is nice. Honestly I'm perfectly happy with Buck 420 or Cases trusharp. AEBL might be my favorite but that isn't used in folders much.

 

[AusLoX]

 

[Hoffmajo89]

I’ve got a handful of stainless traditionals. It’s always nice having something that you don’t need to worry about so much. I’ll have to drop them in here as I carry them.

The case/bose collabs are some of my favorite stainless.

 

[afishhunter]

My latest two with stain less (I have heard it is two words.) blades.
75th Anniversary Buck 110. A gift from a very generous annonymous member, way back in 2024.
I hope he is doing well. I have not seen him post this year.
My only knife equipped with a Magna Cut blade.


A Szco/Rite Edge Barlow I bought a couple months ago.
I "unpolished" the blades using my "soft"/"medium" Arkansas oil stone.
I have a real, genuine signaling mirror with me whenever I leave the property.
I do not "need" my knife to double as a signaling mirror.



My Eldest:
c.1916 to 1928 Challenge Cutlery Pen Knife.
Challenge Cutlery was one of the first - if not the first U.S. cutlery companies to offer stain less blades, in 1916.

I rarely carry/use. As you can see, the spring is pitted rather badly.


A former Staffette gave me this Challenge Cutlery knife. She found it in the street. Yes. It had been run over at least once.

The oldest I received new
1975 WESTERN "Demo Knife". The Army Reserves gave it to me when I (unsuccessfuly) attempted to join.

 

[sparrowj]

Stainless pruner I would not want any other way.

 

[AusLoX]

My latest two with stain less (I have heard it is two words.) blades.
75th Anniversary Buck 110. A gift from a very generous annonymous member.
I hope he is doing well. I have not seen him post this year.
My only knife equipped with a Magna Cut blade.
View attachment 3166566

A Szco/Rite Edge Barlow I bought a couple months ago.
I "unpolished" the blades using my "soft"/"medium" Arkansas oil stone.
I have a real, genuine signaling mirror with me whenever I leave the property.
I do not "need" my knife to double as a signaling mirror.

View attachment 3166568

My Eldest:
c.1916 to 1928 Challenge Cutlery Pen Knife.
Challenge Cutlery was one of the first - if not the first U.S. cutlery companies to offer stain less blades, in 1916.
View attachment 3166577
I rarely carry/use. As you can see, the spring is pitted rather badly.
View attachment 3166576
View attachment 3166575View attachment 3166579
A former Staffette gave me this Challenge Cutlery knife. She found it in the street. Yes. It had been run over at least once.

The oldest I received new
1975 WESTERN "Demo Knife". The Army Reserves gave it to me when I (unsuccessfuly) attempted to join.

View attachment 3166578

Very nice group. I believe it originated as “stain less” but over time that evolved in the single adjective “stainless” but either way works

 

[Peregrin]

One of the few who prefer stainless steel blades. I had too many pitted and rusty blades growing up in the 1960s.
Here's a couple;

 

[Stelth]

 

[AusLoX]

 

[mbkr]

Edit: Forgot I had this pic

 

[Modoc ED]

Oops! The first 75 above is Carbon - my bad.