Why do we strip our beckers?

worldwood

worldwood

Joined
Sep 30, 2012
Messages
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So i stripped my bk11 today (using acetone), i had planned to only strip the blade but the epoxy on the handle started coming off in the process so i stripped the whole knife. i then forced a patina with a pattern. i didnt care for the way it turned out so i sanded it off and forced a patina without a pattern, i like it much better without the pattern. while working my wife asked why are you doing that......

Well my initial reason was i read the blade would slice better, or easier, without the coat. but honestly i did it simply because i could. I wanted to try it, i wanted the experience of doing it. I see it here so often and figured there had to be a good reason why and it gave me an excuse to play with my knife.

I like the way it looks, im not sure if it slices better or not, but i kind of regret my choice , simply because now it rattles in the sheath and before it didnt rattle at all. i know there are ways to stop the rattle, but why create a problem just to be fixed? i doubt ill strip anymore beckers but im glad i did it for the experience.

I think this thread can help other noobs decide if they should or should NOT strip there beckers, and the pros and cons of doing so.

So whats the reason you strip your beckers, is it function, looks, or just because you can and see everyone here doing it? if its function please explain.
What are some benefits you have noticed? Have you noticed any disadvantages?



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Looks cool. Might cut a little better. But really, I just like the look of steel.
 
I striped my 14 because the coating was wearing off in some spots so I decided to just help it along and take all of it off lol. I stripped my 16 because the coating is like a coarse truck bed liner and it does stick in wood. That being said I also like how it looks. Just personal preference.
 
I strip all the beckers I customize...Just looks funny otherwise with bits of coating missing. If I dont make any changes to the blade I just leave it on untill it is practically gone so in that case I'd just help it out by removing the remaining coating.
 
I did my 2, 9, and 14(and my RC-4 and Izula) for the simple reason that I'm not a fan of coatings on blades. I understand their function, but I think the knife cuts better without it, and I am quite capable of oiling a knife after I use it to prevent rust.

Do what you like, make it yours.
 
I dont like blade coatings either. I've had a thing for really well worn, and nasty patinas, since seeing my grandpas old 4 blade Case congress growing up.
 
I have also heard people say that they dont want the coating on the knives because they use them for food processing and prep. I did it to make it my own, and because it started coming off after the 2nd time I used it. If it cuts better, bonus for me.
 
With the new coating especially it retains particles in there so it does cut significantly better with it uncoated.
 
I like the way it looks, i mean i like the black look as well but i have noticed with the coating on alot of stuff sticks to the blade so afterwards it needs to be cleaned and some stuff doesnt come off easy, but ill say this the coating on the beckers is alot better than on my ontario sp8, that coating scratches off easier and is stickier (word?) its a hell of a batoneer but i gave up cleaning the wood off the blade when i finished, im still not knocking it i love it but the coating aint great.

So it seems most do it for looks, i like the look both ways, but i was already going to have this media blasted add some jimping and have the handle duracoated so i figured i try it out for the hell of it. its something thats always on me, so i might as well make it MINE.
 
who doesn't like it when their loved ones are "naked" :-)

I love mine that way :-)

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Hi worldwood, thanks for this discussion, I was going to ask the same question.
I'm not going to strip the coating because I understand it is necessary to prevent rust on the blade but I did not understand the thing someone said about the coating and food: is the coating giving the problems with food?
 
losvedese said:
Hi worldwood, thanks for this discussion, I was going to ask the same question.
I'm not going to strip the coating because I understand it is necessary to prevent rust on the blade but I did not understand the thing someone said about the coating and food: is the coating giving the problems with food?
Click to expand...

Could be wrong but I think it's an issue of food particles sticking to the coating. Like if you cut up raw chicken, don't wash the blade, and then cut up an apple later you'd run the risk of getting salmonella. But, I see this as more of an issue with not cleaning the blade properly than the coating itself.
 
Typically I strip them either so they can strike a firesteel properly (or have a spark knocked off 'em with a chunk of flint if need be [although so far this has never happened, I do like to be prepared for the eventuality of it]) or to remove the new coating from the blade as it is incredibly grippy and drastically affects the cutting ability of the knife.
 
I like the look and feel of the bare steel with the micarta grips. The black blade and black grip from the factory makes it almost seem like a tactical mall ninja blade.. then it's so much more than that. The naked blade has less friction with hard cutting chores like batoning too... For me, it's primarily about looks... Function second.

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when i got my 16, i felt the coating on my hand, and i decided that it's too rough for cutting. so it came off.
 
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