What's your favorite blade finish?

[HappilyGrim]

Pretty simple question but one I think about with each knife purchase I make.

For me personally, I think a nice Satin finish where you can slightly see the subtle grind lines on the blade. Not too glossy, but not too dull either. Almost like a sweet spot in between. For instance... I'll say my BM 581 Barrage is a good example (for those who have or have seen)

However, I do tend to make the decision to go with something different depending on the knife from time to time.

Which finish tends to catch your fancy?

(As a side, I also like that heat colored knife blade look, not sure what it's called)

 

[Kwon Kwang]

I admit to being smitten with a properly done satin finish. The two most beautiful finishes I've seen on a folding knife are the finish on the Spyderco Calypso (it almost seems to glow!) and the Cold Steel Espada (that dual finish is just gorgeous). The Spyderco Military's is a closer runner up, as is the satin finish on my custom shoppe Buck 110.

On fixed blades, I've never seen a finish on a knife as beautiful as on the San Mai III Cold Steel tanto.

9 times out of 10, though, I'll take a solid powder coat finish over anything else; I'm a performance-oriented kind of person first, and a pretty blade won't stay pretty long if it's rusting, which could happen if things get rough and I can't care for my blades as I'd like to. I've never had a DLC-coated blade; maybe I'd like that better if I were to try it.

 

[Bill1170]

I like mirror finished blades, have hand polished a few folders to that end. Yes, they show damage, which is probably why I left my work knife satin.

 

[CraigMang]

Loaded question. Work knife = stonewashed every time; zero evidence of use. For personal admiration and rare use, I'm like these guys in that a nice satin is best, with a mirror secondary bevel.

 

[Wowbagger]

The patina that is forming on my Case Chrome Vanadium blades from cutting tomatoes is pretty darn cool. It is kind of a spring steel blue, not as dark as "gun metal" blue and has a hint of rainbow in it. I can't begin to photograph it. I enjoy some of the free form damascus blades also. The opposit to that would be the ladder damascus which P's me off when I look at it. Just too regular and contrived.

 

[HappilyGrim]

Loaded question. Work knife = stonewashed every time; zero evidence of use. For personal admiration and rare use, I'm like these guys in that a nice satin is best, with a mirror secondary bevel.

It's funny that you say that, I just noticed besides my PM2, all my other knives I use frequently are stonewashed.

 

[stog75]

Stonewash used to be my favorite as ALL of my knives are users. But recently found black/acid wash gives the ultimate protection and will hide any abuse I can muster. Well, not abuse, but you get my jist. ZT blackwash is perfection. Curtiss's acid wash is no joke either.

 

[AntDog]

I love the looks of a well worn coated blade. So I would say a coated blade with lots of honest use on it:





They always look better with some wear on em, no matter the initial finish. :thumbup:

 

[adnj]

I like the hand rubbed satin finishes best - but I can never really use those customs. If we are talking pocket knives and EDC fixed blades, I like stoneware. For the big blades, nothing beats a patina with some mineral oil.

 

[uofaengr]

Spyderco's satin (a satin Military blade is a beautiful thing) or a good stonewash such as on the Ritter Grip, Hinderer, or Strider.

 

[Ken44]

Stonewashed
Hand rubbed
Machined finish

 

[K.O.D.]

My knives are all satin or stonewashed. I don't care for coatings.

 

[Cosmic Superchunk]

Stonewash and satin are my preferences.

 

[hatchettjack]

I like black coated blades the most!

 

[Czechmate]

In order of preference Satin, Mirror, belt/machine finish with coating, everything else. :thumbup:

I really don't like the recent trend of many custom makers (at least with many on Instagram) using an acid etched, stonewashed finish.

To me it seems like an easy way to cover up poor grinding in some cases...

 

[brancron]

My favorite is probably that found on the Spyderco Slysz Bowie. They bring the blade to a high polish before doing a light stonewash. Here's the result (not my photo, my own Slysz Bowie is out for modding):

It's shown off nicely in the video review found here: http://bladereviews.com/spyderco-slysz-bowie-review/

 

[Easyrider]

I like Benchmade's old BC1 blade coating.

 

[TheGearGuy]

Hand rubbed is my favorite finish.

 

[M1GarandGuy]

San Mai with a deep hamon!
I feel like White steel core San Mai works best with deep hamons.

Absolutely gorgeous when done correctly.
I love me some hamons.

 

[Ankerson]

Hand rubbed.