Trade Skirmish blades? I want plain.

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lewdog

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I am going to buy the Benchmade 630BK Skirmish. I love this knife, but would really rather have a plain blade instead of the black one. Is anyone else here about to buy one with a plain blade that would rather have a black one? I am proposing that we trade new, just out of box blades.

Lewis
 
this sounds crazy but.....what if....... just what if you buy a plain 630?? Really thought, I don't understand why you would do such a thing?
 
I won't get a knife that has any colors on it. The only version with the plain blade has a grey/green handle with rainbow dots--totally unacceptable in my opinion. Black blade (even though I prefer plain) is far more acceptable than a colored handle.
 
I agree with lewdog. I love the Skirmish. It's a near perfect design. I would buy one in a second if it didn't have the fancy polka dots all over it. Why can't they make a plain one. Color of titanium is great for a knife handle, in my opinion.
 
There we go. Yes--just plain titanium handle, no colors or engraving, plain blade--I bet they would sell a whole lot more of them if they would offer that combo. Lots of knife people prefer subdued over artsy...
 
Are you talking about the blade or the handle or either? Where would one have that done and how much?
 
Lewdog, have you thought about the mini Skirmish. It's a little less fancy and comes plain blade with natural color titanium frame. The mini is smaller, but maybe that's OK? The Skirmish is really big. Have you had one in your hand yet? You might be surprised how big it is.
 
BTW, I don't own one, but will probably buy the mini Skirmish although I would prefer no fancy artwork (same thoughts as above Skirmish).
 
I've held both in my hand. It felt really great for a knife that big. I thought it would seem so big and ridiculous, but it just felt right. Kind of like the difference between riding in a modern budget car and a cadillac. It's nice to have all that space...
 
lewdog said:
I am going to buy the Benchmade 630BK Skirmish. I love this knife, but would really rather have a plain blade instead of the black one. Is anyone else here about to buy one with a plain blade that would rather have a black one? I am proposing that we trade new, just out of box blades.
Click to expand...

lewdog/allankidd,

you want colourless handles? That's easily done with the skirmish.
Disassemble the knife and throw the _anodized_ titanium handles in hot water and add a few spoons of Oxy-Clean. Stir well and wait an hour or so.

Voila, now you have some dark grey titanium handles. No need to have any worries, Oxy-Clean won't harm the titanium but will eat right through the anodizing.

-Connor
 
I've heard about this trick, but was worried that the oxy-clean might just be putting a layer of junk on top of the handle that made it look better or something. You're saying it actually completely removes the anodization and literally doesn't harm the titanium at all?
 
This is one of those threads that drives moderators nuts. You people are talking about two different subjects in one thread -- proposing a trade, which belongs in Trade: Knives & Tools but also talking about modifying a knife, which belongs in The Toolshed: Knife Care, Maintenance, Tinkering & Embellishment. How can you be so inconsiderate??? What if my poor little brain explodes??? Then you'll be sorry.... :p

Considering the title I'll move this thread to Trade: Knives & Tools. Please feel free to start a new thread in The Toolshed about ways to modify the knife.

moving-van.jpg
 
lewdog said:
I've heard about this trick, but was worried that the oxy-clean might just be putting a layer of junk on top of the handle that made it look better or something. You're saying it actually completely removes the anodization and literally doesn't harm the titanium at all?
Click to expand...

Aye. OxiClean actually dissolves the anodization .. completely. It's a simple chemical reaction. You can test it first with any other piece of anodized metal (MAG-Lite, coloured keys, etc.).

From Wikipedia:
OxiClean is a cleaning product marketed through infomercials (most featuring Billy Mays) as a "miracle cleanser," ostensibly a miracle "oxygen" chemical. In reality, it is sodium percarbonate (C2H8Na4O12), a detergent and bleaching agent which produces hydrogen peroxide when dissolved in water.

Hydrogen peroxide cannot harm titanium. Some people suggest using boiling water but I think hot tap water and a little more time are just as good.

-Connor
 
Here's the thing that worries me: I spent quite a bit of time obsessively searching and reading threads about the oxiclean technique over the last few days. It was mentioned that one just has to scotch-brite or sandpaper the handle if they don't like what the oxiclean did to their knife. To me, that implies that it is only a surface effect, a thin coat of something that would wear off over time, revealing the original anodization underneath. Am I misunderstanding something? I guess I'm being super anal because this is a lot of money for me and I really want it to be perfect...


PS Also, as for buying a torch and heat-treating it to color the handle--would this just rub off over time, or is it permanent?
 
Once you've used the knife, some of those concerns will no longer be there. Interested in trading?






Picture007.jpg
 
Man, that is a serious tool. I can only hope to get that much use out of my knives. Friggin' awesome.
 
lewdog said:
Here's the thing that worries me: I spent quite a bit of time obsessively searching and reading threads about the oxiclean technique over the last few days. It was mentioned that one just has to scotch-brite or sandpaper the handle if they don't like what the oxiclean did to their knife. To me, that implies that it is only a surface effect, a thin coat of something that would wear off over time, revealing the original anodization underneath. Am I misunderstanding something? I guess I'm being super anal because this is a lot of money for me and I really want it to be perfect...
Click to expand...

lewdog,

OxiClean destroys the anodizing. It's not there anymore after the treatment.

What's confusing you is this: raw titanium quickly forms an oxide layer when it comes into contact with oxygen, just like aluminium and many other metals. Since OxiClean is such a potent oxidizing agent it forms a rather dark and even layer of oxide on the handles.

The titanium would oxidize anyway but it would probably look alot more unevenly "coloured". Over time, the oxide layer may become rubbed off or scratched just like any other coating but you could repeat the OxiClean treatment indefinitely. Just make sure the handles are perfectly clean before you throw them into the bath (that means no touching with your bare fingers either).

Make sure to shoot some pictures should you decide to do this. :)

-Connor
 
Very, very interesting. If I were to torch the handles after I oxiclean them, would that be a permanent finish or would that rub off like the oxidation? I really like the torched look...
 
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