To Cerakote or Not To Cerakote - That is the question

[eveled]

A forth poll option needs to be added: Only when it makes sense.

In my opinion, putting Cerakote on a stainless steel blade is like wearing a belt and suspenders (braces for you English types ).

And as JB says, there are better options, like DLC.

Cerakote is useless. Belt and suspenders make perfect sense to me.

You need the belt for your belt knife and sidearm and the suspenders hold everything up.

 

[jbmonkey]

Cerakote is useless. Belt and suspenders make perfect sense to me.

You need the belt for your belt knife and sidearm and the suspenders hold everything up.

sometimes belt and suspenders can be useless. there's a truck driver who delivers materials to my shop. he wears both and his pants are always falling down and back side always partially showing. we all just shake our head that he has both on and can't figure out how to get them to work to keep his pants up.

I dont mind cerakote on firearms. not my favorite finish but i have a Sig and a Daewoo in it. works fine enough in those applications. I also don't hate it in knives just prefer other coatings or bare steel.

 

[eveled]

Lol. Maybe it would be worse without them.

 

[Tecate]

Overall, it looks like no one voted to have Cerakote on the blades. Most prefer not to have it at all. A few don't care either way and a few vote to have it on non-stainless steel. Even though it was not listed as an option, I believe most would prefer the old DLC over Cerakote. Like on Cabela's Alaskan Guide series back when it was "titanium-nitride coating" and not Cerakote.

 

[GPyro]

On the blades, not so much.
But I do admit I prefer the carakoted aluminum frame.
The recent Marksman, and then the Spitfire, offered with the carakoted frame instead of the painted aluminum, in my opinion makes for a nice finish on those knives.

Add the colored blade, and they do look good.
Different.
I'll give the carakoted handles a thumbs up on those lightweight folding knives.

 

[pjsjr]

But I do admit I prefer the carakoted aluminum frame.

I don't care for Cerakote, period. This is my 898 Impact auto with a Cerakoted aluminum frame. I've had it for about two years and carry it often. It started wearing almost immediately. It was a gift from a very good friend that I see several times a week, otherwise I won't not have it or carry it.

 

[Makael]

I don't care for Cerakote, period. This is my 898 Impact auto with a Cerakoted aluminum frame. I've had it for about two years and carry it often. It started wearing almost immediately. It was a gift from a very good friend that I see several times a week, otherwise I won't not have it or carry it.

Patina looks pretty cool tho.

 

[GPyro]

If you paint the aluminum, the paint comes off too.

You could anodize it, but that would wear also, and you wouldn't want an anodized blade.

If your going to build aluminum frames that wouldn't wear, you would be left with a natural finish as your choice.

 

[cupton]

I don't care for Cerakote, period. This is my 898 Impact auto with a Cerakoted aluminum frame. I've had it for about two years and carry it often. It started wearing almost immediately. It was a gift from a very good friend that I see several times a week, otherwise I won't not have it or carry it.

My initial thought for cerakote was NO. I just got a Buck Sprint Ops Pro a couple weeks back which is cerakote and immediately the pocket clip started wearing on the tip. Starting to see some shiny metal there with little use other than taking in and out of the pocket. So thats where my "NO" comes from regarding cerakote. But after looking at your photos I actually really like seeing your 898 looking like its looking. My Sprint Ops is G10 scales, so I dont think I can get it to looking like your 898 with its hard rugged bad-assery look all over. Reminds me of a well used mil-spec 1911 or even an M9. I dig all those wear marks.

 

[Lesknife]

I have a question. On the knife handles that have cerakote . when they wear off will Buck re coat them under warranty ? Or for that matter the blade coating?
Oops, thats two questions

 

[GPyro]

G10 is an alternative to painted or coated aluminum handles.
It's an option in the custom shop for the 722 Spitfire in lieu of the standard carakoted handles.

I wonder how well those carakoted custom 722's are selling.
If you want a Spitfire with premium steel, that's your source..... tho C&C has 'em on occasion.

I'm indifferent to g10 handles.
They remind me too much of plastic. I have a few, but don't carry them much.
I actually prefer the aluminum frames on the little knives over g10.

 

[vaultking1776]

I know Buck invested heavily into Cerakoting there blades by purchasing and installing the equipment to do so, but honestly for me, I prefer my blades without Cerakote on them both as a collector and for my users. I am interested in what others ive actually always wondered if you

I know Buck invested heavily into Cerakoting there blades by purchasing and installing the equipment to do so, but honestly for me, I prefer my blades without Cerakote on them both as a collector and for my users. I am interested in what others think.

Ive always wondered if anodizing could be better than cerakcoting but honestly i dont know if you could get non reflective coating with anodizing

 

[rival22]

Not a fan overall. As others noted, some more durable coatings are ok (DLC, etc).

I do have a 104 in 5160, and don't really mind it there, I guess, but more often I don't like it.

I really don't like it on scales/handles. They look good the first day, and can look cool when really worn, but for the most part look like crap to me.

 

[DavidABQ]

I voted for cerekote. I love the idea of having the blade cerekoted and then an image can be etched into the blade like a jack-o-lantern, easter egg or perhaps the Easter Bunny? Just imagine what can be etched inro a blade that has been cerekoted? July BOTM can have the American Flag or perhaps the Betsy Ross flag etched into the blade.
The image of Darth Vader's helmet for the May BOTM. The possibilities are endless!

 

[Railsplitter]

Personally, I don’t mind Cerakote as long as it doesn’t look gaudy but I do think that Buck uses it too often.

 

[pjsjr]

I do think that Buck uses it too often.

I agree.

I have thought about doing research into what percentage of Buck's offerings are Cerakoted compared to other manufacturers. Being the lazy old fart that I am it's not going to get done.

I'm still lamenting the February BOTM being the first blade in Cru-Wear and Buck having Cerakote on it when it just didn't need it. If Buck was worried about it being in combat and having reflection they could have sandblasted or stonewashed the blade.

I know it's all about the bottom line and Buck needs to do what it can to stay in business.

 

[Railsplitter]

I could be wrong but I seem to remember reading that Buck fairly recently began doing their own Cerakoting in house. Like maybe within the last 3-5 years.

If that’s true, I can understand to a certain extent that they might like playing with their new toys but it affects the customer too.

Reminds me of a gal I used to hang out with who once got a new car stereo. She played that thing so loud and so long that we couldn’t even speak to each other while we were in her car.

Overkill, I think is the word I’m reaching for here.

 

[pjsjr]

I could be wrong but I seem to remember reading that Buck fairly recently began doing their own Cerakoting in house. Like maybe within the last 3-5 years.

IIRC they had in house Cerakoting in 2018 when I was there for the 30th BCCI get-to-gather.

 

[Ironbut]

I only have two knives in Cerakote, and both are Busses. A Team Gemini, and an ASH1. They look nice, but it'd be fine with me if they weren't Cerakoted. As far as holding up under use, I can't really say. Neither one has ever cut a single thing.