What is stonewash?

Nemo1775

Nemo1775

Nemo me impune lacessit.
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I am curious, is the Busse stonewash a steel finish, treatment or coating? Other than looking sweet does it serve a functional purpose? I did a forum search but could not find a clear answer.

Also, am I correct in thinking that the below is stonewash? If it is not, can you please tell me what blade finish this is? Thank you for your time.

974AB79F-9F1B-4DEB-A233-7124C4336D73.jpeg
 
Think of stonewash as a tumble finish. (Because it is)

It’s not a coating. Just bare metal that has been tumbled with stone media to a smoother finish. I like stonewash because it’s generally very smooth, but the tumbled finish hides scratches (from use over time) very well. Because it’s bare metal, it slides through materials better than any coated finish.

In Busse blades so far, stonewash is only second (in smoothness) to a satin finish. I like it better than BIG DC or Competition Finish.
 
lmcq784 said:
Think of stonewash as a tumble finish. (Because it is)

It’s not a coating. Just bare metal that has been tumbled with stone media to a smoother finish. I like stonewash because it’s generally very smooth, but the tumbled finish hides scratches (from use over time) very well. Because it’s bare metal, it slides through materials better than any coated finish.

In Busse blades so far, stonewash is only second (in smoothness) to a satin finish. I like it better than BIG DC or Competition Finish.
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Thank you for the explanation. I thought that might be the case but I wasn't sure. Does that FMV-8 appear to have the stonewashed finish?
 
lmcq784 said:
I’m no expert but it does appear that way. (The darker finish sets my stonewashed blades apart.)
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Thanks, it can be tough from a photo. I thought it looked that way. Whatever it is, it is a striking looking blade.
 
lmcq784 said:
Think of stonewash as a tumble finish. (Because it is)

It’s not a coating. Just bare metal that has been tumbled with stone media to a smoother finish. I like stonewash because it’s generally very smooth, but the tumbled finish hides scratches (from use over time) very well. Because it’s bare metal, it slides through materials better than any coated finish.

In Busse blades so far, stonewash is only second (in smoothness) to a satin finish. I like it better than BIG DC or Competition Finish.
Click to expand...
Concur. And I'd add, I daresay, it could become the absolute best Busse finish. Unless you want a safe queen. Based on seeing it in other brands, I'd put it on equal footing with the Competition finish, but I would hazard to guess it is a little less man-hour labor intensive.

Based on what I've seen of Busse finishes, and my experience with stonewash elsewhere, I'd say my personal favorite finish order is likely to be Stonewash, Competition, DCBB, coated, and Satin. Satin looks the nicest when you get it. But it seems to show scratches exceedingly easy.
 
One other thing that is often overlooked and not talked about enough.

In my experience the Stone Washing also creates a bit of surface hardening which helps if preventing marring and "scratches" from showing.
Think of it as a bunch of tiny hammers peaning the peaks and valleys of grinding over.

also with the surface hardening and the peaning over of the peaks and valleys there is less for rust to hold on to so they seem more rust resistance.

Just my thoughts I am not a scientist or metal expert just a guy who has seen, handled and used quite a few knives over the decades.

I really like Stone Washed over most finishes
 
Stonewashed FM8??? Where did you get that? So sweet, man... uh, I mean...LAME! You should sell it to someone. Not me though. Fine. I'll buy it, just to save you the embarrassment.
 
Dangerneck said:
Stonewashed FM8??? Where did you get that? So sweet, man... uh, I mean...LAME! You should sell it to someone. Not me though. Fine. I'll buy it, just to save you the embarrassment.
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Dangerneck said:
Stonewashed FM8??? Where did you get that? So sweet, man... uh, I mean...LAME! You should sell it to someone. Not me though. Fine. I'll buy it, just to save you the embarrassment.
Click to expand...
Don't want to rub it in, but I got one in black and one in tan, both look stonewashed. I'll know for sure in 4 days.
 
I think I have been taking Boss Hog's advice too literally... Time to sober up for a while.

I just went back to the original Cupid Ganzaaa thread and clearly stated above the FMV-8's is a subtle hint that makes me feel a touch foolish... "Stone Washed FMV-8 Dagger..."

So yes, they are stone washed and thank you all for answering what stonewashed is, I still learned something new, as well as knocked a but of rust off my humility.
 
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