What's wrong with the factory blade coating?

ESEERATFAN

ESEERATFAN

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I haven't been a member here for very long, but in the short time I've been here there have been a lot of posts on how to remove the finish applied to ESEE blades.

Why?

What's wrong with the factory applied finish?

My knives seem to function fine as-is and I can't seem to find any reason why I would want to strip the coating.

I'm not trying to slag anyone and what they prefer, just really curious if I'm missing something or this is just a matter of personal taste.
 
A lot of people prefer the way they look without a coating. It would also patina a lot faster without one. I personally don't mind the coating, but I do prefer the look of a natural patina.
 
i dont know either. from all the coatings i have used the rowen powder coat is my favorite by far.
 
I would say it's a matter of personal taste.

I have over 10 ESEEs and only one of them has the coating removed.

I have to say that without the coating, the knife definitely cuts better in that there

is no resistance from the coating.

For me it was just something to try. And I like it.

I will probably remove the coating from another one, but most of them will remain

coated.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the ESEE coating.

It is the best in the biz. :thumbup::thumbup:
 
Its all about personal preference...... I like a my knives to be different than everyone I run with.....that is why I use Gun Kote and Duracoat on some of my blades.
 
the main reason just seems to be that some people love to "pimp their ride".

i've heard sp,e say that they cut better without the coating, but i've never heard of an impartial side-by-side test of that.

some of the patinas look nice, but to the average person a blade with a patina probably looks neglected.

dunno. the only blades i've had with patinas were old Case or similar pocket knives. they are hiding in a box somewhere and i have no clue where they are tho. those are blades that i've had for over 30 years so they're probably 60 years old now. perhaps older.
 
Simply a matter of different strokes for different folks........ :)
Nothing is "wrong" with the coating, it does just fine. ;)
 
I'm thinking of doing it to my Junglas. Haven't seen a stripped Junglas yet and I bet it would look badass.
 
I use my Favorite ESEE knives and when the Coating looks ragged ,I'll strip them ,I have a stripped 3,4,6 and I have plenty of coated versions as well
 
the few ESEEs i see on here that get used get SHREDDED-I can honestly say that my HEST has more naked metal than it has powder coat, so it will get the strip when I get around to it. The blade lasts so much longer than the coating that after a while it's just chunks of ugly black that aren't functional at all. At that point just take it all off, it's not doing any thing anymore.
 
Well I had an izula for a long time, it eventually got scratched to heck, so I removed the coating, an it definitely cuts much easier.
 
I'm in the camp that likes them the way they come...
the more use they get, the more they wear, the more I like 'em.

but everybody's different, right? :)
 
Im enjoying the finish on the Izula/Esee. Ive had so much stainless over the years, that its a welcome change. Actually, I get to see both. Spyderco in pocket. Izula on belt.
 
i've been carrying my izula since last july, it's really suprised me how well the coating has worn. one of these days i may strip it, but i like the wear marks...
 
I stripped my 4 because the coating went to hell after batonning some sappy fir when I was camping. I had wood chunks and sap embedded in the black, and when I tried to scrape the chips out it just took off chunks of coating with it. Now that I've stripped it, it slices like a dream, and I'm currently experimenting with a tiger stripe patina...

Sure it hurts resale value. But anyone who has an ESEE as a user wouldn't dare sell it ;)
I will have these knives for the rest of my life, so why not make them look exactly how I want them while still retaining amazing functionality?
 
I'm going to be one to say that I love the look of worn/scratched/partly bare/seasoned knives. It just looks awesome! Knives that look like they've been through hell probably have w/a great finish that ESEE/Rowen provide.

Check out this vid review of the 6 from MRBLADEDUDE on Youtube...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYabixi3MpA

Nothing like a worn in blade/finish that will still shave newspaper!
 
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