- Joined
- Nov 8, 2009
- Messages
- 1,533
I would like to ask some opinions on what types of finish(es) are most preferred on a knife that will see military service. I know we have some military folks on here and those are the opinions which are most valuable to me, but I welcome answers from anyone who has had the opportunity to use and abuse knives in similar context. My question applies mostly to carbon steels, but for informational purposes I will not exclude stainless.
Personally I think I would lean towards a simple etched/acid washed finish because if the scales are properly sealed the finish can be re-done just about any time, by anyone. It seems to be popular these days for users to remove blade coatings and experiment with alternative finishes, and the etch is a good starting point for this kind of modification.
Parkerizing is probably my second choice, although I do wish it were more durable. I have experimented with cold blue over an acid wash, and this seems to be more durable than straight cold blue but still wears off, and makes the blade ill-suited to food preperation.
So, what finish and why? Is rust resistance more or less important than having a non-reflective finish?
Personally I think I would lean towards a simple etched/acid washed finish because if the scales are properly sealed the finish can be re-done just about any time, by anyone. It seems to be popular these days for users to remove blade coatings and experiment with alternative finishes, and the etch is a good starting point for this kind of modification.
Parkerizing is probably my second choice, although I do wish it were more durable. I have experimented with cold blue over an acid wash, and this seems to be more durable than straight cold blue but still wears off, and makes the blade ill-suited to food preperation.
So, what finish and why? Is rust resistance more or less important than having a non-reflective finish?