DLC Finishes seem different on a couple knives

M

Mick_1KRR

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May 1, 2016
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Just curious if anyone else has similar findings, all the new DLC finishes i've had so far have a good bit of shine to them, but my latest recon 1 tanto in XHP is a lot more matte than the rest of the family. Anyone else have a similar finish? Probably just factory variations in production. Not doubting it's genuine, seller is very reputable, just curious.

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A buddy of mine just got two Lawman straight from Cold Steel. One was shiny and one was matte finished.
 
I have heard that CS has switched to a matte finish recently. It's all about the surface finish of the steel, as the DLC coating is so thin it takes on the finish. They probably just started bead blasting the blade before DLC. IMO think would probably help increase the durability of the coating.

Here is a vid comparison of 2 Lawman, one with satin and another with matte finish:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2Rx9fFE6dI
 
if i remember correctly on dlc coatings....... shiny or matte has to do with the blade finishing before the coating. so i would expect the blade finishing prior to coating has changed by the supplier. just a guess though.
 
My AK47 has a dark tone finish, non reflective, as my Recon Tanto and Recon 1 XL, those three look "fresh" or "humid"
My Hold Out I and Broken Skull sport a darkened, oily looking (like "greasy") DLC
And my Hold Out II has a DLC finish that shines but doesn't look humid, wet or greasy in any way
 
If the shiny DLC means the blade is finished with more of a polished surface I'm all for it. I don't slit throats by moonlight... anymore, so a bit of a reflection doesn't bother me at all. Blasted blade finishes though are much more rust prone regardless of coatings in my experience. And can't see how the blasted/matte DLC would be more wear resistant, the shiny finish on mine seem impervious to to wear.
 
I was going to post about this a few months back. I have several DLC Cold Steels (Recon 4", Recon XL, Recon Mini, Ti-Lite 4 & 6 Limited Ed with DLC, and Lawman) and they are all a glossy finish. One evening I noticed how my Coyote brown large Hold Out was a contrast to the other Cold Steels. The DLC finish was more matte in appearance - not shiny - and rougher to the touch. Curiously, I wondered if it would polish up, I whipped out the metal polish and it took a few minutes for each side but it now shines like the other DLC blades.

Was this an incorrectly finished blade or some form of oxidation? I'm not sure. The polish was the cotton style wadding infused with compound (the can is so old the brand label is long gone). There was a small amount of dark residue on the wadding the same as you would have rubbing a normal non DLC blade.
 
Interesting. Both my CS CTS-XHP blades (American Lawman, Recon I) have shiny DLC finishes. Amazing advance in blade technology, IMHO; they do not collect gunk and the DLC seems very difficult to scratch. Great steel, too; holds an edge with any other I have used. The level of precision in construction of these knives is extraordinary. Kudos to Lynn Thompson, one of the most innovative blade designers and makers of the last 25+ years.
 
Alberta Ed said:
Interesting. Both my CS CTS-XHP blades (American Lawman, Recon I) have shiny DLC finishes. Amazing advance in blade technology, IMHO; they do not collect gunk and the DLC seems very difficult to scratch. Great steel, too; holds an edge with any other I have used. The level of precision in construction of these knives is extraordinary. Kudos to Lynn Thompson, one of the most innovative blade designers and makers of the last 25+ years.
Click to expand...

I think you mean Andrew Demko, not Lynn.
 
`br4dz- said:
I think you mean Andrew Demko, not Lynn.
Click to expand...

His praise of Lynn is valid in this context. Lynn is a blade designer and creator of Cold Steel, who gathered designers like Andrew Demko. I am also sure that Lynn had design input with both the AL and Recon 1.
 
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