To strip or not to strip

pro: some might say the coating might get in the food you're slicing so they strip it for safety but that's highly unlikely. it's mostly for looks/personal preference.

cons: the metal is now more vulnerable to rust and will require more oiling or forced/natural patina. the patina is just like the original coating - it will wear away just as easily, if not easier, than the original coating when used heavily with wood processing.

side note: 1095 and rust has been way overblown in my experience. last time i oiled my 1095 knives was when they were brand new. i just make sure it's dry before putting it in the sheath and no rust problems at all...others with safe queens might be different though.
 
Some folks leave the coating on the tang under the scales. Makes sense to me.
I was getting a little oxidation under my scales, so I just steel wooled it off, cleaned the tang with some alcohol and let it dry, and then coated that area with some Krylon clear acrylic.

Also, as a longtime stripper at BeBe's Hot Beefcake Showcase, I can say that nekkid is where it's at. ;)
 
ive stripped my bk7 and my bk9. 7 is getting bead blasted sunday. I like the way it looks better stripped. Pro is reduced drag when cutting and it looks nice.
 
Kabar still honors the warranty, correct? I just saw the new Ritter Becker collaboration, and if I am able to get one, I will strip the blade only.
 
I have some knives that have a coating on them. I leave them the way they are to prevent rust from forming. Some of the environments I have to go into suck and sometimes I don't have time to oil them like I should.


mlrs
 
i stripped mine and no problems, of course i keep it oiled. and also i did leave the tang coated, just the blade stripped
 
The jury is still out for me on the whole strip and patina thing. I like the looks of the one's people have posted up, but just can't bring myself to pull the trigger. I love Becker mods, so I'm not sure what's holding me back...?
 
I say strip it. You should be happy that you can just go to Home Depot or whatnot and get that Jasco stuff. I will probably have to order that stuff online, it is called "Abbeizer" in german (pronounce Up-bytes-r :D). I personally hate blade coatings, but the design of the BK14 was to appealing for me not to get it.
 
Stripping at least the swedge makes the knife chop and slice markedly better due to less friction. I stripped and polished the swedge only on my BK9. Start out with 80 grit sandpaper and work your way up to a polish. Use a small power sander or elbow grease. That coating is tough. After polishing the swedge has been cold blued to resist rust. It's easily touched up once in awhile, when I feel like it or remember to after attacking small trees etc. on an excursion.
 
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