Blade Texture---Old or Polished pics added p. 4

[Java Man]

Old and unfinished.  

[hunt it]

Doc,

Your knives don't sell cause you don't sell em!!!! No other reason!!!!

[Bjorn]

That is a sensational looking knife Doc. Polishing it would be a sin. IMHO.
When ya' gonna' turn pro?

[BigRonHuntAlot]

Hey Doc, Send one of each for evaluation and I will get back with ya on an answer. LOL      :D

[JohnHV]

Doc,

I like the old, out of the forge look.  

I've recently been reading about applying mustard (yeah real mustard like you'd put on your hot dog!!)to a semi-polished carbon blade to achieve an aged look.  You dab it on with the tip of your finger and let it dry, wash off and do it again.  The vinegar ans salt in the mustard is supposed to give a mottled, aged look.  Some will finish it off with a cold blueing.  Makes for a real antique look.  Have you ever played with anything like that?

[4runr]

The "Tippit" style, is what I call the unpolished look. You have made a mark in our minds with your knives Doc. In my mind that's what a good knife should look like. Not that other's knives aren't good knives, Lord knows Jeremy and Doug, just to name a few, make some beautiful blades. I just like the simple functional look to "Tippit" knives.

[woodchucker]

OLD.....  

[Jack Guard]

Doc, I LOVE the "old" look.  but i think i need a closer look.  i could test one for ya.

By the way, how do you finish the blade that way....hopefully its not a ancient knifemakers secret.

[sticshooter]

I like the old look. But not because I am lazy and don't wanna spend time to get a blade to shine like Jeremys . It's just that I like a rugged look in a knife. But sometimes a nice polish ona blade is sweet so what Vermonster said rings so true.<><<><

[OzarkRamblr]

I don't like my things to shine too much plus the knife has more character if it's finish is left a bit rough. Either way, they're nice knives.

[jdupre]

I like the aged look too. If you really use a carbon steel knife , it will get stained anyway. If it's gonna be stained, I would just as soon have it stained in a nice looking pattern. I like the mustard etch because you can make different patterns .

[Coachy]

Just a question from a budding knife maker ,,, do people spend more on the polished look , or are they just as happy to spend as much on a knife that looks "rough" ??

[robtattoo]

Originally posted by Coachy:
Just a question from a budding knife maker ,,, do people spend more on the polished look , or are they just as happy to spend as much on a knife that looks "rough" ??

Doesn't seem to make that much difference, to be honest. If an etched or non polished blade suits the style of knife, obviously. Some knives just flat out don't suit a forged finish & look far better with a satin or mirror polish.
A lot also depends on your intended market.

[Coachy]

How can you say that  a certain knife suits a certain finish ? Sorry I just dont get it . I thought it would be more of a personal thing . How could say ,, a fillet knife suit a polished finish ,, where as a skinner would suit a forged finish ?
  Anyway ,, looking forward to more opinions

[tippit]

Coachy,  
As I started making knives, I strived to copy guys whose knives I really liked ie. Doug & Daniel Winkler...I said tried!  You keep reaching plateaus if you stick with anything long enough just like shooting traditional equipment.  My next level was I could finally forge consistent shapes & reproduce what I was actually trying to copy.  Then you finally start to break out on your own and keep changing styles to see how little differences effect the function of the blade.  That's were the Bear Quest has been so much fun for me with the number of bears to be skinned and usually four guys to a bear...a lot of knives get tested!

Long explanations of how the maker feels when they finish up a blade.  Anyway that's my interpretation of Rob's comment on how the finish fits the blade.  Still comes back to what the maker & buyer like...except I don't have buyers so it's easier for me to keep playing around    Doc

[tippit]

Coachy,
Also I think there is a difference in a rough look.  The knife has to be finished and then have a rough look as opposed to being just rough if you are talking about some spending good money on it.  IMHO The rough look on a finished knife is just a style and cost similar.  Then Again my customers are all very complimentary of my pricing policy...Doc

[Arrowslinger]

Doc,

I love the old look of a lot of your blades.  You make some fine looking knives.  I look more for function.  If it works I like it.    

[Jeremy]

Then Again my customers are all very complimentary of my pricing policy...Doc

I'm quite fond of it myself!    

Doc is spot on about a knife having to be finished and look rough, rather than be rough.  There's a very BIG difference that is clear when you have both types in your hands.

The nicest knife I've seen to date was a "rough" forged hunter by an ABS Master Smith.  It was probably about 95% finished right out of the forge.  All the smith did was grind the edge.  The blade had the blackened finish Rob was talking about and you could tell it had been hand hammered to shape (nice distal taper and an even bevel from spine to edge) but running my fingers over the blade I could hardle detect the variations in the surface.  The skill it takes to do that is well beyond what I'll ever be capable of (a man's got to know his limits) and the smith was asking, received and deserved a hefty price for that knife.

[KyGal]

I too like the well worn look, but prefer that the blade and grip have a matching finish. I have some stuff from the buckskinner set called "Old Bone" that is chemically nasty but will oxidize bone, antler or wood to match the metal. I dunno what it is, but it seems to stop acting with a good rinse. It is liquid and bright purple.

[tippit]

Potassium Permanganate!