Mora patina

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bickford

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Jul 9, 2010
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Hey guys. I bought a carbon Mora, on the recommendation of so many here. It is scary sharp and seems like it'll be a great knife. This morning, I did some carving with it, using green wood, to make a bow for fire making. When I was done, I cleaned it with some soap and water, dried it, and put a little oil on the blade. It's got some rainbow looking spots on it now along the edge. Is this the patina people mention about carbon blades? Is it fine to be there and will it spread, or do I need to do something to maintain it more carefully? Thanks in advance.
 
Hey bickford, that patina is perfectly okay and is normal with a carbon steel blade. Just keep it clean, and let it go ahead and develope more patina as time goes by.

I've got an old Frost's number 1 with the carbon laminated blade, and the first time I used it to gut and clean some pan fish, if got a really nice blueish patina that just darkened in time. The blade will eventually get a dark gray in color, and that's good, as the patina will act like blue on a gun and give the steel a little protection. Now after 15 years or so, my Frost's mora is a charcoal gray in color exept for a bright edge where it's been sharpened. Too many people make the mistake of freaking out, and go nuts trying to keep the blade polished. That's actually counter productive.

Let it age, it's natural. In time we're all going to be a bit gray, why not let our knives age along with us. Shiny is boring. In the old days when I was a kid, the men who got a brand new knife would often stick it in a potato over night just to put a bit of a protective patina on the blade.
 
Or you could do what I did--make it "custom" by taking it apart, immersing the blade in hot Coca-Cola for a couple hours, and stripping the handle and staining it black. :D

Looks tacticool.
Takes an edge easily, and keeps it.
Cost me $20.

Who could ask for anything more? :)
 
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