Justin King
Well-Known Member
Lookin' good, James!
I don't imagine that there would be an issue with the name/maker's mark, there is no requirement for sterile equipment in regular units, that I know of. If anyone knows different then by all means, speak up!
A lot of guys do appreciate a non-reflective finish but a satin finish would probably work fine as well. I don't think it is expected of anyone to invest $ to buy a parkerizing setup, or anything like that. I will most likely do an acid washed/stone washed finish on mine but a plain acid wash (etch) would serve the same purpose. This can be done on the cheap with white vinegar, a bottle of ferric chloride can be found at Radio shack for fairly cheap also. Ceracote or Gun Kote are also good alternatives but may be cost prohibitive to some of us. Bead blasting is also an option for some but keep in mind that the blades are not stainless and a textured finish is likely to promote rust.
A lanyard tube is always a good idea IMO, I personally never use them but having the tube there can't hurt, and always offers the opportunity to change my mind
Swedges/false edges are a subjective feature. I have never had much use for one and with my preferred style of grind (high flat or full flat), they tend to thin the tip out too much for my liking, and they also preclude using the back edge as a user interface for applying off-hand pressure or batoning. Not worth the tradeoff IMO, but they are prevalent on tactical type knives so I won't say that they don't belong.
Sheath attachments are also subjective and not everybody likes the same thing. Molle Loks work well for attaching to webgear but most guys don't wear webgear all of the time, and for some guys a Tek Lok might be more versatile, allowing them to carry the knife more easily when not carrying full kit. I have had quite a few military customers in the past year or so and I would guess that 1 in 4 or less have chosen Molle Loks for the sheath attachment.
I don't imagine that there would be an issue with the name/maker's mark, there is no requirement for sterile equipment in regular units, that I know of. If anyone knows different then by all means, speak up!
A lot of guys do appreciate a non-reflective finish but a satin finish would probably work fine as well. I don't think it is expected of anyone to invest $ to buy a parkerizing setup, or anything like that. I will most likely do an acid washed/stone washed finish on mine but a plain acid wash (etch) would serve the same purpose. This can be done on the cheap with white vinegar, a bottle of ferric chloride can be found at Radio shack for fairly cheap also. Ceracote or Gun Kote are also good alternatives but may be cost prohibitive to some of us. Bead blasting is also an option for some but keep in mind that the blades are not stainless and a textured finish is likely to promote rust.
A lanyard tube is always a good idea IMO, I personally never use them but having the tube there can't hurt, and always offers the opportunity to change my mind
Swedges/false edges are a subjective feature. I have never had much use for one and with my preferred style of grind (high flat or full flat), they tend to thin the tip out too much for my liking, and they also preclude using the back edge as a user interface for applying off-hand pressure or batoning. Not worth the tradeoff IMO, but they are prevalent on tactical type knives so I won't say that they don't belong.
Sheath attachments are also subjective and not everybody likes the same thing. Molle Loks work well for attaching to webgear but most guys don't wear webgear all of the time, and for some guys a Tek Lok might be more versatile, allowing them to carry the knife more easily when not carrying full kit. I have had quite a few military customers in the past year or so and I would guess that 1 in 4 or less have chosen Molle Loks for the sheath attachment.
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