Your thoughts on the usefulness of a black blade, please?

H

HorseloverFat

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Apr 11, 2014
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I will consider a black blade when I acquire a Manix 2 XL , but it seems more suitable for a tactical folder such as the Paramilitary 2. The fact that the blade would be less reflective of light and therefore less visible would clearly be suitable for tactical purposes, but I'm not aware of any other reasons for a black blade. Please inform me of other uses that I'm not aware of. Thanks...
 
A coating can also help prevent corrosion. They are mostly just for aesthetic reasons though, and whether or not a black blade is aesthetically "better" is all subject to personal opinion.
 
They look cool. That's pretty much it. Mr. bp is right in that a blade coating may be advisable on some steels to guard against rust (Benchmade Contego, for example), but most blade coatings I think are just for looks.
 
Continuing with the Contego example, it does help to some extent to mask the sheer size of the blade. The black M4 contego looks a bit less menacing at first glance (IMO) than the M390 or the grey cerakote M4.
 
^
Yes, the menace factor would be a consideration for those times when I find myself cutting a cigar wrapper. I imagine that it would draw less stares from the other customers in the cigar shop. LOL.
 
some coating may reduce friction when cutting into things, which is one of the major objectives of coating bits, dies and molds in the industries.
 
as said above a black blade makes some of my knives seem MUCH less "evil" when I pull them out around sheeple.
 
The main purpose is to not reflect light such as in a police or military tactical situation. To a lesser degree it is to protect the knife from rusting. The other main purpose is to sell knives.

If I had a choice, I would never buy a coated blade.
 
I don't find it useful to me at all. The only reason I have any coated blades is because I could not get them any other way. I'm currently carrying a Citadel/Fox Deimos with a black blade. The knife is available in a satin blade but you cannot get the satin blade with the black micarta handles as the satin blade is only available with wood handles, and I do not like the wood it comes with. So I put up with the black blade to get the micarta scales. The other black blades I have are only available with black blades period.

So much for black blades for me. I agree with what has already been said about black blades though. I can see them being less reflective and where that might be a desired trait for some. I would think that corrosion resistance would be the main reason for black coated blades, but that would only be an advantage for carbon steel blades. I also agree with the "cool factor", and manufactuers have taken great advantage of this. But a nice satin finish, or well done stonewash finish is more cool to me as I have gotten older. The last coated blade I bought on purpose was the Spyderco Szabo, because it looked so cool to me, even us older folks can still be drawn by the cool factor!:D Now I wish I had bought the satin version while it still can be found.

Like rimfire, if I had a choice I would never buy a coated blade.:thumbup::)
 
It makes a 'tacti-KEWL' folder less conspicuous in use, especially 'round NKP. ;)
However, just look at some of the pictures here when those knives have seen some real use on them.
Scarred up finish looks more unsightly than if it were satin from the start.
 
Mmm, I would normally agree with Victor but I was amazed with the toughness on my paramilitary. I wouldn't worry too much about the resiliency of spydercos DLC. It is extremely tough and looks good even after use/wear.
 
I would prefer a mirror polish or a 2 tone mirror/satin like the old school Vero Beach Microtech customs.
 
Out of somewhere north of 500 knives fitting many styles and types I have 2 coated blades. I just can't warm up to them and it is a deal breaker for me.
 
Looks nice till it gets a SCRATCH because you actually used it. :grumpy:
 
The tacti-cool black coated blades make it easier to sneak up on your prey without them noticing, that cardboard will never know what hit them.

It also looks like crap when you scratch it all up or start chipping off the coating because you decided to actually use it. And lets not even talk about if you decide to thin down the blade and how bad it look if you don't strip off all the coating.
 
The best use so far of a black coated blade is when I'm working in the sun - blinds me less than a satin finish.
 
The manix xl 2 black has a titaniun carbonitride coating.
it doesn't prevent rust.
It makes the blade more resistant to scratches, because the coating it's 72 or more in rockwell hardness scale.
I have one, it's beautiful.
Not sure about effect on slicing through materials.

The main reason as stated is light discipline.
It has been argued before that black blade are less noticeable and less intimidating for non knife people (the opposite effect takes place on knife people, it's also been argued).

I like the whole black knife, aesthetically. That's why I bought it, and because I own a manix xl 2 satin blade and it's a great knife.
 
Some black-coated blades are just lovely to at. Ones that have been stone-washed, or as Kershaw calls it "black-washed", IMHO, makes the knife look even better... :thumbup:
 
I find that a shiny blade is more of an eye-catcher in public. A brand new black blade can turn some heads here and there, but it doesn't have that shine that draws eyes and gets dirty looks. Subdues the blade a bit.

That said, I prefer a nice stonewash or polished blade.
 
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