My background is mainly engineering, so I sometimes get hairbrained ideas or meanderings of the mind. Having done a stint with plastics, at that time, adding color to a plastic component resulted in a weaker finished product.
For intance, if you are familiar with Closet Maid Shelving systems, the plastic components used to come in white and brown. The white was significantly stronger.

This makes me wonder about the coatings on Bussekin blades. Is there any consensus on whether or not a certain color shows better characteristics for wear, chipping, etc?

edited for spelling-shouldn't type at 4 in the a.m. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Not really sure although I have heard some say that some of the blade colors don't resist wear as much as others. One I CAN speak about is the mossy green color on the S5. It wears VERY well. ONE reason might be that it is a lot thicker application than just a single (gray, black, etc)than others. It is actually a combination of colors and is thicker.

Black, grey and tan are all matte finish, while the mossy green is a glossy finish. Probably has something to do with the makeup, and from what I've seen the green is much more wear resistant than the others.

How's your pink knife holding up Randy? It's a glossy finish as well, may be similar?

The orange on the scrapivore wears pretty fast. I cut up about pop can boxes and it got a bunch of wear lines in the finish. It is a gloss finish too.

Todd, the pink is thicker than normal but so far only finish lost is on the prybar end, YUP that's what I used it for. As far as the blade, just smudges so far, not hit anything hard with it yet, just some meat and a few twigs.

Do yourself a favor and strip and blue it bluing the blade is a lot easier to fix than the powder coat.

Sounds like a fun project, but I wonder if it voids the warranty?

Says in the warranty any and all major damage. Major damage to me would be breaking the tip off or the knife breaking at the handle. Blueing I would not call major damage it's the same as basically a controlled rust. When people purposely put a patina on does not void the warranty. Should try and blu a knife man it is not hard to do. Check out the post ratweiler can see my blueing job.

don't do yourself that favor! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" /> (if anything pm Dan himself and ask him)

any factory coating is better than "home-brew" even worn, it still protects the blade (and worn looks cool, no other blade looks like it)

modifying anything on your blade will most likely void your warranty, but hey it's your blade for sure but I wouldn't expect to have the warranty still valid.

I have never been to concerned with rust. Rust can be prevented/controlled by use or by PMI (periodic maintenance Inspection, a term we used A LOT in the Air force).

Whichdawg have you even ever used a blued blade to make that comment is my question. and it is not a "home Brew" as you put it i have it professionally done. so it last. and honestly i think that factory coating is crap i wish they sent them to you without it. least with blue you can repair it without have to send the knife back toe the company to be recoated.

Miles, there are a number of reasons for the "Coating". I, like you don't care that much for coatings, but they are pretty durable, even when they are wearing off they still provide protection. Plus it also helps Dan give us such good prices on these VERY hard use blades. Same with the handles. He could put something besides Res-c on them but the price would go up.

Personally I would rather have a coated, Res-c handled blade for XX dollars than a pretty looking Satin or mirror polished one with Sculpted handles for XXX dollars. Then maybe again it's just because I'm cheap. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />