I continue to think of stripping off the coating of an SR77 blade, either the current or upcoming model and then adding something like a stag handle for a different kind of look... my questions is that when the coating is removed.... how easy will it tarnish/rust?

Very easily! They don't pit too badly though.. Keep the coating ON for a field knife.

I left my LE buried in the Pumpkin overnight and it stained....it may come out with a little rubbing, but it is a work knife and I like the "Character"!

I use my LE a bit. Just light work trimming bushes, limbing trees, etc. I wash it after every use with soap and water then wax the blade. So far it still looks as bright and beautiful as the day it arrived.

I have only cut wood and, well, me so far. No rust. The only anti-rust treatment I have used is car wax.
Mine is the uncoated LE version.

Sap, salty water and similar mark the 'raw' blades unless you look after them. As a long term field knife or trail knife the coated version would be easier to maintain- the LE would get marked up unless you could clean it and lube it properly, which would mean carrying more weight (kit) around. As a day use rather than trail knife take and enjoy either... (In all honesty given a year or two of hard use I think all Scrappers will be 'nekkid' dull silver all over anyway...)

The S6 is still the best field knife out there though. (But Jerry may disagree).

Does anyone use Flitz to clean up their knives?

semichrome is what I use

I had some of that (Flitz) supplied with my Buckmaster... Neither inmpressed that much. Having said that it was quite a long time ago so Flitz could be very good these days!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I purchased a tube of Fitz and I really hated the way it smelled. It made the knife stink too. I will not use it again.

You wouldn't want to skin and butcher your food with a 'honking' knife...