What’s your favorite blade finish?

[tony281sc2]

Hey guys just curious to see what everyone’s favorite blade finish is. After reading something about “cheap” machine ground satin finishes, and hearing a popular YouTuber complain about them all the time, I’m curious to what these results will be. I personally think machined satin looks great, and the hand rubbed satin looks like the knife got all scratched up during manufacturing. And I understand that of course different knives look better with different finishes and what not so this is just for fun. Let the arguments begin! Lol
BTW I voted DLC because I’ve never met a high quality DLC knife I didn’t like.

Edited because I forgot to add blackwash

 

[G. Scott H.]

On carbon a satin finish of any type. On stainless I like...GASP...bead blast.

 

[tony281sc2]

Dang I forgot bead blast lol ….nothing wrong with that

 

[AntDog]

Walter Birdsong Black T and Green T. Love how it wears.

 

[shane45-1911]

I voted "other". I am not a fan of coated/painted blades (DLC, epoxy, etc.). I end up removing those finishes and typically add my own patina.

That said, I am OK with stonewash. I also like parkerized blades, although you don't see many.

 

[PeteyTwoPointOne]

I voted stonewashed especially when it's the super slick polished variety like on my Spartan Harsey Folder...looks great and noticeable cuts down on drag vs. some other finishes.

All of them will get beat up with usage, but satin is most serviceable when you want to reset the finish.

 

[PeteyTwoPointOne]

...I also like parkerized blades, although you don't see many.

 

[guy g]

I voted other.. I like CRK ( I think it's a ceramic bead blast) Bucks finish which I think is tumble polish and what ever Case does to make theirs bright and shiny.

 

[ferider]

Stonewashed. Note that not all Stonewashed finishes are equal. Love the CPK version, very durable.

 

[LimpCroissant]

My absolute favorite is when they put a nice mirror finish on the blade and then tumble it afterward making a nice polished stonewash. I also love a nice hand rubbed satin finish. Two tones get me going too like say hand rubbed flats and stonewashed primary bevel.
Edit: And a big advantage to uncoated blades is you can refinish the blade much easier. Lets say you rounded off your tip and have to grind the spine down a little to get a point back. If it's satin it'll blend in nicely instead of having a big gouge in a coated blade.

 

[justjed]

Other. Nothing looks as good as a polished blue, in my opinion. For users, I don't have a real preference, but the polished stonewash finish on my White River Sendero Classic is probably my favorite, of knives I own.

 

[wouter1967]

I know it's not thé most practical, but I'm a sucker for Machine Satin.
Industrial combined with the marks and wear of a used blade has its charmes.

Most practical IMO and with a nice appearance is a bright stonewashed blade.

 

[tltt]

On older traditional patterns, mirror. On more modern knives, satin (either type).

 

[Bob Denman]

My favorite finish?
SHARP!!!
But I do like bright & shiny too!

 

[gazz98]

I voted "Other".

On a folder, I don't have a preference.

On a fixed blade, since I usually go 1095/SK5, I'll take a cerakote/DLC finish to help protect the blade.

 

[Alberta Ed]

None in particuar, as long as they cut. Roselli knives have a very coarse grind with the forge scale left on, not fancy but very distinctive. Mirror polished blades would be at the other end of the spectrum. I don't mind coated blades, either.

 

[afishhunter]

Other.
Not mirror polished.

 

[luethge]

Patina, parkerized, blued, acid washed, forged without much clean up.

 

[cmfkdragoon]

I voted stonewashed because I highly prefer that finish in folders, but I also like the forged finishes on some of my fixed blades...that would get my second vote.

 

[Ajack60]

Stonewashed, it hides light scratches better.