Knocking The Shine Off A Buffed Knife

[JohnR]

Anyone have any methods to knock the shine off a buffed knife without scratching it. I normally won't buy a buffed knife but if it old and rare enough I have.

[Steve Warden]

If it's a carbon blade, just force a patina on it - cut apples, smear the blade with mustard, etc.
If it's stainless -

[rea1eye]

I just put patina on carbon steel blades that were over-buffed. I let
some mustard set out overnight on a plate. Applied the mustard for
about 15 min. rinsed, and the shine was gone. ( Leaving mustard overnight
thickens up the liquid so you can apply the acid exactly where you
want-in my case I avoided the tang areas).

SS- perhaps 1500 grit sand paper??

Bob

[orvet]

3M makes a polishing paper that Jantz supply sells.
The grit on the polishing paper is much different than on sandpaper. I would use the 1200 grit polishing paper to take the shine off of the knife. I don't think you would need to do a lot to it just gently rub the 1200 grit polishing paper over the knife and I think that will dull any bright shiny surfaces like bolsters, highly polished blades etc.

If you wanted to be ultra cautious begin it begin with 4000 grit and if it is still too shiny, step down too 1200 grit. They don't make any grits between 1200 and 4000.

I hope this is helpful.

[Gunsil]

I would advise cleaning the blade with acetone before using apples or mustard. Just to remove an wax from the buffing compound or any oil. This prevents getting a mottled patina which can happen if there is still buffing compound wax embedded in the steel.

[FRJ]

Gene gives some excellent advice about the acetone. I wouldn't have thought of that.

I have this polishing paper from 3M that I bought several years ago on Amazon.
I haven't used it much but I have a few of those glistening blades myself that I am not fond of.
More good advice from the pros.

[JohnR]

Thank you all for the input.gives me different options to try.

[wlf]

I’ve used pencil lead John, on-off. Easy testing. I don’t like that fake shine either, but it’s not always a choice.

[JohnR]

I’ve used pencil lead John, on-off. Easy testing. I don’t like that fake shine either, but it’s not always a choice.

Interesting Lyle, I will certainly give that a try also, do you use wide lead like a carpenters pencil?

Here is the knife in question, a Schrade Cut Co Barlow with close to full blades and very hard to find jigged bone covers, saw cut bone was the standard cover material and the jigged bone was not used much on the Barlow.

[GClaxon]

Stick the blades in a potato for a while. It will darken the carbon steel

[edge213]

I’ve used pencil lead John, on-off. Easy testing. I don’t like that fake shine either, but it’s not always a choice.

Interesting Lyle, I will certainly give that a try also, do you use wide lead like a carpenters pencil?

Here is the knife in question, a Schrade Cut Co Barlow with close to full blades and very hard to find jigged bone covers, saw cut bone was the standard cover material and the jigged bone was not used much on the Barlow.

You could just send it to me so you won't have to go to all that trouble.

[JohnR]

I’ve used pencil lead John, on-off. Easy testing. I don’t like that fake shine either, but it’s not always a choice.

Interesting Lyle, I will certainly give that a try also, do you use wide lead like a carpenters pencil?

Here is the knife in question, a Schrade Cut Co Barlow with close to full blades and very hard to find jigged bone covers, saw cut bone was the standard cover material and the jigged bone was not used much on the Barlow.

You could just send it to me so you won't have to go to all that trouble.

Good try David