why do people want blade coatings with little reflection?

[gooeytek]

Being a Covert Dark Ops Ninja Assassin, the black coated blades are critical because they match my gear when I'm out doing Covert Dark Ops Ninja Assassin stuffs.

 

[Siggyhk]

Yes, OrdnanceBubba, a few of my kitchen knives show rust. And I think a rust preventive coating would help. Not necessarily black. In fact, I'd be happy with a grey toned coating on all knives. Maybe clear even.

 

[Art_Vandeley]

ESEE powder coats to prevent rust. It just so happends to be non reflective as well.

The only knife I bought with a black DLC blade is the Para2, because I just liked the way it looked. I like the way it looks after extensive use.

 

[Toyz]

It doesn't really matter to me one way or the other. I tend to buy what I like - the only thing I try to stay away from these days are the partially serrated blades.

If the blade is coated - no big deal. If it bothers me a lot - there are mechanical and chemical ways to fix the problem!!

 

[Ankerson]

I don't normally like coated blades and if there is an option of getting the same model with an uncoated blade I would choose that over the coated option 100% of the time.

 

[Presumed_Lost]

I won't tolerate them.

I've had a couple of encounters (decades apart) in pretty dark conditions where making it obvious that I was armed solved the problem. In my first draft of this post I went into details, but they don't really matter (and they really aren't that interesting, and I did no heroic things and some stupid things). I know some "experts" preach never giving up the advantage of surprise, but at least in some cases flashing a blade can mean not having to use it, which is an outcome I like.

Bottom line, as a result of my own experiences I value an easily visible blade pretty highly. Obviously, if you're military or really do covert work or somesuch your priorities may be very different, but I'm none of those things and I much prefer to keep the option of making any blade I carry clearly visible fast. It's not something I personally would give up to look cool, or because I thought the knife looked better, or because I thought it was a good idea to protect the blade from corrosion (but not the edge). We all get to make our own choices, but there IS a down-side to having a dark blade that might be worth considering.

I do have one tiger-striped blade, which I guess is "coated". In the ZT300 series it's either that or black, and it's big, noisy and visible enough that I don't think there's much chance of it going unnoticed if I want it noticed. I still would have preferred it bright, but probably not enough to do anything about it.

 

[Dorito Monk]

Personally, I couldn't care less what most people think or say on this issue. Most coated blade resists rust, and most look better in general.

Those who think their speacial because that would never consider a coat blade don't me $&%@ to me. I love coated blades, and not because people can't see my knife in the dark; but, that is an added bonus too. I like the fact that it I have my knife open in public, people are less likely to realize i have a knife than if it's shiny.

They look better, and rust less. The first part in opinion, the second if fact.
I think those who only consider poished, flahsy blades think too much of their knife a jewlery. I have a few uncoated blade, and there isn't one I wish wasn't coated. Coated blasde are functional. Uncoated blades are decorative.
Most guys hate a black blade, but the love one in pink or "toxic green".

Personally, I couldn't care less what most people think or say on this issue. Most uncoated blade resists rust, and most look better in general.

Those who think their speacial because that would never consider an uncoat blade don't me $&%@ to me. I love uncoated blades, and I don't care at all whether people can see my knife in the dark. I like the fact that it I have my knife open in public, people are less likely to freak out than if I was carrying a tacticool black partially serrated mall ninja blade.

They look better, and don't rust because I learned how to take care of my knives when I was eight years old. The first part in opinion, the second if fact.
I think those who only consider coated blades think too much of themselves as Operators, when in reality they just play too much cowaduty. I have a few coated blade, and there isn't one I wish wasn't uncoated. Uncoated blasde are functional. Coated blades are decorative.
Most guys love a black blade, but then cry when it gets all scratched up.

 

[sh00ter01]

Different strokes for different folks.

I have a mixed bag of both coated and un-coated blades, it doesn't really matter to me.

-sh00ter

 

[ThePointyEnd]

sun+shiny knife=blind guy wielding a knife... not my idea of fun

edit:
some high carbon steels rust too easily to not protect with something, and I'd wager black paint/epoxy is easier to come across than clear. Personally don't mind too much coated or not. as long as the knife does its job it's good by me.

 

[allyourblood]

 

[mrdavidross321]

i actually find that a black blade is less startling to people at my work, people always look at me funny ( almost as if they have to watch what im doing because i have a knife ) if i pull out say, my superleaf, groove, or endura
but when i use my black blade manix 2 or black camo milli or even my black tanto groove, they may look, but dont sit and stare at whats going on, almost as if they didnt see how long the millie was, because its black?

alot of black bladed knives have black pocket clips and/or frames and scales... a big plus to me, i actually hate shiny pocket clips

also i think a beat up faded and worn black blade looks cool, shows that it has been used, IMO its the patina of the stainless world

 

[Siggyhk]

Dorito Monk. Congrdualations on you choice. Good to know all you need is to take care of your knives to prevent rust. It's probaly not hard to do sitting at your moms kithen table or computer desk with nothin else to do.

Lots of tools have been made to be less corrosion resitant for a long time. Knives aren't any different. Lots of you people's problem is that you associate a coated blade with some thng it's not. If people buy a knife that's black so that they can play commando, they're foolish, I agree. But most of you seem to think that's the only reason coated blades exist. But, lots of people buy coated blade so that they don't have to baby their steel -as in sitting a the dest or kitchen table, or in mom's basement, or where ever.
Grow up a bit. Lot of us who like a coated blade don't care if it's black or even the dreaded "urban camo". They just don't want exposed steel. There are actual people that would rather not worry about rust. They don't want to be anal about avoiding water or sweat, ect., and they don't want to sit down at the end of every day to oil the steel down.

Coatings prevent maintainance, but the high and mighty think it's just so you can't be seen at night. I, for one would be fine with a quailty clear coat, or even a color other than black. -Or even a "high" polished steel, even H1. But, lots of you just like pain steel at the expense if cleaning it regularly. -Go right ahead.

Also, monk, I'd love to speak about this with you in person so you'd see I'm not quite 8, or an operator. -And I love scratched coated blades too, by the way.

Buy the way, I know for a fact the the color of your blade doesn't have anything to do with what you can do with it. -Lastly, you have no idea who I am, and I'll leave it at that..... So just keep "playing" with you uncoated knives, buddy..

 

[Leek_Freak]

i actually find that a black blade is less startling to people at my work, people always look at me funny ( almost as if they have to watch what im doing because i have a knife ) if i pull out say, my superleaf, groove, or endura
but when i use my black blade manix 2 or black camo milli or even my black tanto groove, they may look, but dont sit and stare at whats going on, almost as if they didnt see how long the millie was, because its black?

alot of black bladed knives have black pocket clips and/or frames and scales... a big plus to me, i actually hate shiny pocket clips

also i think a beat up faded and worn black blade looks cool, shows that it has been used, IMO its the patina of the stainless world

+1 for me

 

[OrdnanceBubbaUSMC]

I don't know bro - coating on a blade that's primarily carried as a weapon or large one that's for rough, bruiser work is ok for me but definitely not on food knives. Just don't trust it.

The only carbon blades I've seen rust on were the ones left in a box or bag somewhere for a long time with no attention. Main one was a Ka-bar utility/fighter that the edge would have rust appear if not oiled before spending months in a closet. It's ingrained in me to wipe down any blade after I've used it on my pant leg, shirt, etc. Can't see any stainless really needing it unless it just has to be soaked and left naked for a long time or has a very acidic, oily owner.

 

[hardheart]

Maybe clear even.

I, for one would be fine with a quailty clear coat

it's called chromium oxide. It is clear and forms when stainless steel contacts air. All stainless steels are automatically clear-coated.

Also, monk, I'd love to speak about this with you in person so you'd see I'm not quite 8, or an operator.

I think that was supposed to impress somebody or something.

I have a couple of coated blades. One is CPM-M4. It is DLC coated, so the coating itself affords almost no protection, but the porosity supposedly aids in retaining stuff that actually does help. So I still keep a coat of Boeshield on it. Which also keeps it shiny and pretty. Main reason for the coating was the way it works with the tan G10 scales. Another one is a BM Bedlam, which I just went mall ninja with. There's also a limited edition Fantoni which only came with a coating, no other option. The other knives I carry are uncoated. Nobody sees them in my pocket, so light reflection doesn't matter. When I have to interview guys who previously tested positive for explosives, have confirmed ties to insurgents, were caught raping boys, etc., I don't think about tacticool coatings on knives and pistols.

 

[hiwa]

I personally find no difference in cutting ability wether a knife is coated or uncoated. Black coating suits some knives and not others. Like blade shapes, etc. it's a personal choice.

Some manufacturers coatings I find come off easily ( Cold Steel , Fallkniven comes to mind.) I find Esee's the toughest. Sog's black Tini coating is thinner than the Esee stuff , but seems to wear pretty nice as well. I actually like it the best of all of them , especially on my Seal Pup Elite.

There is a disadvantage in nightime use regarding loss issues with coated, but an advantage on really bright days not having the blade flash your eyes while using it. I am assuming for Military use not flashing at any time is a good thing.

I'll admit there are a couple of knives i've stripped ( BK-7 for one) that I like better without the paint. It's a 50/50 thing with me. Not a deal breaker if coated was the only choice.

 

[BikerTrash]

Some knives I like DLC, some I don't, and some I like them both ways. Why? Less flashy. And there are ways to prevent loosing a black knife in the dark.

 

[Dorito Monk]

Also, monk, I'd love to speak about this with you in person so you'd see I'm not quite 8.

Hahaha...oh, internet tough guys.

 

[rustyrazor]

wow... a pissing contest. impressive guys! the funny thing about this whole thing is how offended some people get at comments on here. and by the way "SIGGYHK" got it, Sig/hk (I prefer glock bye the way) ... it's the internet, none of us know who each other are so we should probably leave it at that all round and just concentrate on what matters here, like making valid points on the coatings we prefer or don't. i feel like I just wasted 10 minutes reading a play by play of a 8th grade arguement.

 

[RetiredGuns]

I own just 1 folder with a coated blade and that is the Para2 Digicam. While I favor an uncoated blade I figured if I was going to get a knife with cammo scales I may as well get a subdued blade. Spyderco does it so well.