What would be a good final finish for this blade?

cmd

cmd

Joined
Feb 7, 2004
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This is a knife I did just for fun. A friend gave me a leaf spring out of his grandfather's 1940 Ford used for making illicit transfers of alcohol years ago.

I forged it to a general shape then ground and heat treated it like 5160. Luckily there is enough of it to play around with the heat treat before making this blade. I wound up going with 1550 then edge quench then immerse. After cleanup, into the kiln at 375 for an hour, twice. This seems to work well for this metal.

The blade is about 7.25" and it is just under 12" total. The handle is green canvas micarta and the hardware is stainless steel.

Anyway, please give me your opinions on what a nice final finish would be for the blade. I'm thinking about either doing something to age it or going the other way and polishing it. Right now it has been taken to 220 then a worn 400 grit belt.

Any other opinions are welcome, too.

Chris

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My two cents are that it looks like a user so i would give it a satin finish. This would compliment the green waves in the micarta and not overshadow it like I feel a dark blade would (keeping the handle as the first focal point then the whoa factor of the blade after the eyes are drawn to the handle). Like I said- only my opinion. Show us the end result no matter what you do!
 
I agree on the satin finish. I leave mine at 240 grit from a slack belt, then a quick hand chase with 220. Most of my knives are made for everyday use.
 
Yeah, that looks like it's meant to get beat to hell :) ... really kind of a waste of time to fully polish it. If I was looking to buy it, I sure wouldn't pay extra for mirror polish on a daily user like that. It will likely take on a nice patina after a while anyway.
 
I'd probabaly go with a light etch, maybe blueing, and probalby a 400 grit hand rubbed finish. Or maybe a Gun Kote finish.
 
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