Help... What is this marking on my Forum Native?

captnvegtble · #1

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I haven't used my 2013 Native S110V Forum knife, and I took it out of the box today and it has this marking/number on BOTH sides of the blade, which wasn't there when I first recieved the knife. What is this number... and is it easily removed? This was NOT going to be a user and the number mark is bothering me. Has anybody else noticed this?

Evil D · #2

Interesting. I immediately thought it might be something used to mark batches of steel, but the machining should have removed it. Otherwise it may just be something the factory wrote on that blade to mark something and the marker didn't get wiped off well enough. I'd try something like Goof Off or some kind of residue remover type product and see if that removes it, maybe even nail polish, lighter fluid, metal polish, etc. It shouldn't be stained so much that it can't be removed. Where was the knife bought from?

captnvegtble · #3

It was purchased directly from Spyderco.

Edit: In fact, the mark wasn't visible when I first recieved the knife and it has become more visible over time... it doesn't look like something that can be rubbed off with a chemical remover... it looks more like the steel is stained/oxidized in that pattern.

The Deacon · #4

Evil D wrote:Interesting. I immediately thought it might be something used to mark batches of steel, but the machining should have removed it. Otherwise it may just be something the factory wrote on that blade to mark something and the marker didn't get wiped off well enough. I'd try something like Goof Off or some kind of residue remover type product and see if that removes it, maybe even nail polish, lighter fluid, metal polish, etc. It shouldn't be stained so much that it can't be removed. Where was the knife bought from?

Or something that cause a "patinia" of sorts to form selectively.

FWIW, I just checked both of mine and found no sign of anything similar on either of them.

captnvegtble · #5

The Deacon wrote:Or something that cause a "patinia" of sorts to form selectively.

That was my initial thought... not sure what to do about it. I suppose the thing to do would be to contact customer service and see what they say, but I thought I'd check to see if other people had noticed this and if Sal or Christi saw the picture, perhaps they could chime in.

The Deacon · #6

If it was me, I'd do as David suggested and try to buff it out with some metal polish.

Holland · #7

That's pretty cool, I would just leave it personally

Pinetreebbs · #8

Marked to be collector number 118?

Before using any abrasive, try Opps remover solvent. It's sold in paint and hardware stores for removing most stains, including marker ink.

RadioactiveSpyder · #9

One word: ghosts.

Do you see dead people?

Holland · #10

RadioactiveSpyder wrote:One word: ghosts.

Do you see dead people?

lol!

donutsrule · #11

If we knew what sort of marker did that, everyone would be customizing their stainless blades!

Brock O Lee · #12

That blade is telling you it wants to be a user...

captnvegtble · #13

Well, so here is my dilema... this is the first time I've bought and handled a Native, and while the fit and finish of the knife is some of the best I've seen (props to Spyderco on another solid kinfe), I'm not crazy about the ergonomics of the Native, so I don't think I will be making it a user. Most of my knives are users, however, as I do not generally keep "safe queens". I also don't like to flip knives for profit, but if I end up selling it in the future (since I don't plan on making it a user), I'm worried that the number marking and/or use of chemicals or abrasives will impact on the value of the knife. Don't get me wrong... I'm not a "flipper", and I didn't buy the forum knife intending to sell it for any sort of profit, but now I feel a little stuck since I don't plan on making it a user.

The Deacon · #14

In that case, send it back to Spyderco and let them deal with it. I'd bet they can get the stains out without devaluing the knife.

#15

Hi Captn,

As Paul said, I would send it back to us. Please call it to my attention.

sal

billy blade · #16

sal wrote:Hi Captn,

As Paul said, I would send it back to us. Please call it to my attention.

sal

Problem Solved!!!! Now that is customer service folks.

captnvegtble · #17

sal wrote:Hi Captn,

As Paul said, I would send it back to us. Please call it to my attention.

sal

Thanks for your comment Sal... I will certainly send it in.

Part of why I posted was to see if anybody else noticed this, but it sounds like not. I'm really very curious as to what the number marking is :confused:

Timbo114 · #18

if I were you capt ... I'd play #118 on the 3 digit lottery before sending that knife back to Sal.

#19

I'm guessing that it was marked to distinguuish it from other Native blades in other steels and it somehow weeped through. I'm actually looking forward to seeing it.

sal

Johnnie1801 · #20

sal wrote:I'm guessing that it was marked to distinguuish it from other Native blades in other steels and it somehow weeped through. I'm actually looking forward to seeing it.

sal

It's kind of odd but you might have accidentally found a way for people to make cool tattoo like modifications to their blades