Not sure why but powder coating seems to be way more popular than black oxide. I'll take the oxide any day over powder coating.
Completely agree! That looks awesome! It has to hold up to wear better than powder coating. So that's where our housecat went
I've been much the same way. Out of all the esee's I have/had only one laserstrike still has coating. I plan to strip tue blade and square the spine.
It's the one ESEE I've got that I want to take the coating off of. I've done it before to other knives, probably still have some stripper somewhere in the garage. Don't know why I haven't yet.
There's only been one myself I didn't strip and that's because I sold it before I could. It's become a little hobby that I enjoy doing. On the laser strike, a small flat file piece will fit in the scale cavity with the tinder tabs and ferro rod.
The one LS I left coated was only because I work in salt/brackish water environments. But it's been eating at me having coating on it. I don't have the handle kits in either of mine. The heavily modified one was a gift and the coated one was bought blade only with TKC scales so it didn't come with it. Excellent idea! What part of Arkansas you from? I lived in Fort Smith and Booneville for 4 years.
Oh OK I gotcha, so not the best idea to do, but... Lol. I figured I'd suggest it in case you wanted to save your spine, not that it would damage it really. But no sense if you have something else to use. Again, just my opinion. Actually I live in Hollister Missouri, but close enough to Arkansas. I haven't been that far west or south into Arkansas, but I frequent Eureka Springs a lot. Been to Bentonville once and camped at the Tyler bend campsites, on the Buffalo River, a couple times
It's a great opinion for sure! I've carried both my 5 and Junglas along at work quite a bit and as long as I keep'em wiped down with coconut oil they've been good to go. The main reason I wanna square the spine on that LS is scraping fuzz off of fatwood for lighting fires. After using my 5 that way it's got me hooked.
I've taken to using the square spines of my knives like that recently. It's the best way I've found for making idiot proof tinder. I also know what you mean about salty/brackish water. I live on the coast of GA and, if for no other reason, can appreciate either a coated or stainless blade (I'm not crazy about either).
It was like the proverbial lightbulb went off the first time I scraped tinder with the squared spine.
I use mineral oil usually, but I use a Tuf cloth of I'm out for a while. You make a great point there. I've never done that so kind of an out of sight of of mind thing I guess. Or my forgetfulness in my old age lol.
