What's your favorite blade finish/coating?

trane fan · May 23, 2003

I know there are a myriad of blade finishes and coatings such as mirror polished, satin, stone washed, BC1, BC2 and BT2 just to name a few. Each finish/coating has it's pro's and con's. I recently got my second Sebbie(regular/plain/small)with an S30V stone washed blade. It's my first knife with the stone washed blade and I really like it so far. Frankly, I appreciate the fact that the inevitable scratches won't show nearly as much with this type of finish which means I'll probably use the knife for some tougher chores. However, I've read where some folks think it looks too dull and plain. So what are your preferred finishes/coatings? and why?

Steven Roos · May 23, 2003

BC1 is probably one of the prettiest, Swamp Rat's crinkle coat is probably one of the toughest, and CRK's stonewashed finish is probably one of the most practical.

trane fan · May 23, 2003

I know what you mean about the BC1. I recently picked up a BM Park Avenue and the finish on the blade is superb.

Keith Montgomery · May 23, 2003

The only coating that I can tolerate is Bodycote's Diamond Black. It is exceptionally scratch resistant and looks great.

ExamonLyf · May 23, 2003

Stone washed is awfully practical, but I guess I like a nice hand-rubbed satin finish best for the most part...

PlaceKnives · May 23, 2003

I'm one of the few who really likes bead blasted finishes. Mainly because if it gets scratched up, blast it again. No big deal. It can stay new looking almost forever.

Second would be a nice hand rubbed finish nice looking without looking chrome plated.

Keith Montgomery · May 23, 2003

when it comes to finishes, I prefer a hand rubbed satin finish. To me it looks by far the best.

PWork · May 23, 2003

Stonewash all the way.

Paul

Marcelo Cantu · May 23, 2003

SSSSSSSSSSSSatin! I feel it optimally compliments the beauty of a grind and profile

My next favorite coating is honey glazed!

guy g · May 23, 2003

Mine is the stuff Chris Reeve uses on his one piece line. I think its called Kalgard.Dont know if its practical for a folder or not, but works good on the fixed line.

dylan_d · May 23, 2003

Blasted and hand rubbed Satin.

fishbulb · May 23, 2003

On anything but a "dress knife" a simple satin or lightly polished surface is fine, preferably with a good deal of scratches from actual use.

On something dressy I like two-tone satin.

J-man_the_jet · May 24, 2003

Satin or Stonewash.

UltraReef · May 24, 2003

Black Ti coating or High polish, bead blast or Stonewash for the users!

Batrachian · May 24, 2003

High satin finish, or Kalgard if a coating is needed.

Wunderbar · May 25, 2003

Satin. Stonewashed is fine too. If the blade does'nt come with a satin finish, then I'll give it one myself.

Alberta Ed · May 25, 2003

Carbon steel, stained and mottled from use. Except for a real shiny, razor sharp edge

, with a light film of BreakFree.

DEA · May 25, 2003

satin or stonewashed
although the stained carbon steel does sound good for a beater

Sergiusz Mitin · May 25, 2003

Folks,
Stonewashed is the method of finishing, not kind of finish. The end result depends on what kind of stones you are washing your blade in, the speed the washing machine rotates with, washing time and some other things more. Sebenza and some Microtech blades are stonewashed pretty roughly. In Hans Peter Klotzlis workshop I saw how they perform stonewashing in granulate with rounded edges, made of very fine ceramic (something like SPYDERCO white stones) and with very low speed. Wow! the result looks amazingly! The steel surface looks like highly polished but with some kind of deep noble glare what is impossible to get with simple buffing. I have tried to take a picture but it doesnt show how it really looks, it is mandatory to see!

Well, about my favorite blade finish. I like a lot BC1 coating over slight stonewashing like it is done on BENCHMADE 770 Osborne and 690 Elishewitz blades. However the best way IMO it looks with Carbon Fiber scales or at least bolsters. Nice finish but hard to keep in order, each touch leaves clearly visible fingertips.
As for everyday carry I probably would prefer satin finish or slight stonewashing over satin finish like BM recently finish their blades.
Basically Im not partial to coated blades since I do not see any sensible reasons for myself to go with them. However if life would press I would prefer black or rater graphite-gray titanium nitride coating because it is hard and doesnt get scratched easily. Pretty corrosion resistant too although seems not as good at this point as teflon coating.

Ookpik · May 25, 2003

I dont like coatings. I do like mirror polish, satin polish, and stonewash finishes.

What's your favorite blade finish/coating?

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