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Some Thoughts on Mint Knives

Ok, I'm new to this, but I just wanted to throw this out. I have this rule I try to follow: never buy a knife simply to collect. In other words, I only procure knives I like, only knives I would want to carry and use. That's the fun of it, at least for me. As a result, I cannot keep my hands off of the knives I purchase; so it is difficult for me to have any knives that are considered mint. Every knife is a candidate for use. But as it so happens, I've acquired many knives (200 or so) and there are some I most likely won't get around to using, but I'm going to try. I recently purchased a gorgeous Elk GEC Pioneer prototype, and it is in my pocket. It's a sickness, I know :) Do any of you share this same illness? Just curious. Gary T

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by johnny twoshoes on May 20, 2012 at 20:14

I love a new patina.

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on May 21, 2012 at 7:53

I just love all patina's, the more a carbon knife turns the more I like it. The ones you use the most will make the best patina's.

Permalink Reply by Jan Carter on May 21, 2012 at 16:56

I know we have had the question before but I thought I would share why a patina is good for a blade

A patina is a thin film that develops on some metals due to oxidation. It is a type of rust, but a good one, that protects the blade rather than corroding and eating away at the metal.

In MemoriamPermalink Reply by Robert Burris on May 21, 2012 at 17:29

Thanks for the definition, Miss Jan, I think a patina on a knife blade is something that has been lost from one generation to the next.

Permalink Reply by Dana Mayo on May 23, 2012 at 18:53

I remember years ago an old friend of mine noticed an old grubby looking Herters knife that I had and looked at it and said "Wow, thats a really nice knife" which totally surprised me at the time. I said "why's that?" and he said, "Just look at the color of the metal" He new what I didn't know at the time. It had (and still does) a great patina.

Permalink Reply by johnny twoshoes on May 24, 2012 at 9:15

There is just something about a knife you has been trusted and has the scars and character to prove it.

My favorite knives have a lot of patina.