Spyderco Forums

I'm just curious about the black coated blades that many Spydercos are available with. I have never owned a black coated blade because it just seems like they would be extremely prone to getting marred up and scratched.

So do they scratch very easily ? And what about when you sharpen them ? Does the black coating come off then too ? I'm just trying to learn some stuff here.

Wolverine666 wrote:I'm just curious about the black coated blades that many Spydercos are available with. I have never owned a black coated blade because it just seems like they would be extremely prone to getting marred up and scratched.

So do they scratch very easily ? And what about when you sharpen them ? Does the black coating come off then too ? I'm just trying to learn some stuff here.

Depends. Even bare steel will scratch if you abuse it enough. From what I understand, the DLC coating now used on US made Spydercos is very tough. The coatings used on older ones, and on those made in Japan, are less damage resistant. Blades are coated before they're sharpened at the factory, so the edge on brand new ones is bare. Further sharpening will take the coating off as the edge bevel moves.

I find some black-bladed Spydercos attractive such as the all black Para 2 and Manix 2 (esp with the black hardware). But due to my copulsive nature , I don't think I could handle having a black blade that has become scarred and scratched over time. I understand that satin finish blades scratch as well but the I think that scratches on a black blade would be 1000 times more noticeable.

My Para-2 has the DLC coating. This stuff is amazing. Year and a half of normal edc use cutting cardboard, wood, and other similar tasks and it looks practically new. My non-coated blades seem to have more scratches. Probably because the DLC just doesn't show light scuffing as much. Most times if you do mark it with something like cutting a plastic zip tie, the mark is just the plastic on top of the coating and it cleans of rubs off.

Do not hesitate to try DLC. Its light years ahead of the usual blade coatings that we are all used to seeing.

I could be wrong, but I think the new higher end knives from Golden all use DLC.

I only have experience with the DLC Para 2, and in my experience the DLC doesn't scratch nearly as easy as a plain satin blade does. In other words it holds up to scratches better than steel does. Nothing is scratch proof though, so if you go stabbing car doors then expect a lot of scratches. My general EDC involves cutting a lot of corrugated boxes and i have yet to get a single scratch from that. The only scratches i've had are from other metal objects in my pocket.

I've been using a DLC Millie for quite a while and it still hasn't shown any scratching down to the bare metal. Of course, I haven't tried jamming it through sheet metal or anything like that, but it hasn't been pampered either.

One thing that I have noticed with a black Benchmade Griptilion is that the coating will wear off when stropping if you go beyond the factory grind angle. I haven't had that problem with my Millie yet but I imagine that it will wear along the edge eventually.

NYRich wrote:I've been using a DLC Millie for quite a while and it still hasn't shown any scratching down to the bare metal. Of course, I haven't tried jamming it through sheet metal or anything like that, but it hasn't been pampered either.

One thing that I have noticed with a black Benchmade Griptilion is that the coating will wear off when stropping if you go beyond the factory grind angle. I haven't had that problem with my Millie yet but I imagine that it will wear along the edge eventually.

I'll echo NYRich. I've had a couple of DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) Spydercos and never had one have the black marred with EDC use. I've had a coupel of Cold Steel black coated blades that the black comes off with stropping also. Hardley meant for hard use. I mean the coating, because it comes off the blade when they shove it through a car hood. Then again, DLC may come off then also. All black coating comes off with sharpening. The edge bevel will be bare metal.

Jack

I have had two black-coated blades - a Para and a Military. Although they do not suit my taste these days, the coating on each knife held up very well. I last rubbed my Military blade down with a little mineral oil to restore it's original deep black color and found no blemishes despite some moderate use. The Para was the in the same condition. The DLC coating is a lot more than just paint. I have never seen anything like it in the knife world. Tough stuff.

Yes, the DLC is VERY strong.

I don't know how some of you can be so protective about scratching your blades. A knife is a tool... the wear and tear just adds character and makes the knife look even better.


Just enjoy the **** thing!

DedRok wrote:Yes, the DLC is VERY strong.

I don't know how some of you can be so protective about scratching your blades. A knife is a tool... the wear and tear just adds character and makes the knife look even better.


Just enjoy the **** thing!

To each his own , DedRok. I have plenty of Spydercos that get a healthy workout daily (just like me). But I also have a few that I want to keep nice for different occasions. In the field , I'm rearing to go everyday with my Manix 2 and Para 2 back up. Ready for anything. But out somewhere nice for dinner or a formal event I would like a classy (all black) Para 2. But who's gonna see my knife whilst I'm out at a banquet or social engagement ? Me. That's who.

The DLC coating is VERY resilient. I lent my black blade millie to a friend who decided to cut up a can with it. I looked at the blade and saw what I thought to be the DLC scratched off, so I promptly began yelling at him. Later in the day I tried to wash the blade and it turns out the can just left a metal residue on the dlc and the coating was unharmed. Very very impressive stuff, I wish there were more black coated sprint runs in really good steels. For example, M4 is suppose to be easy to patina and maybe rust (I don't have any experience with M4 but this is what I have read feel free to correct me.) so why not DLC coat the M4 so the black can't corrode? Black blade M4 millie with orange handles plz.

hey wolverine,
i have to agree with everyone about dlc.
i've edc'd my black blade para 1 for over a year now, cutting cardboard, nylon packing straps, and packing tape.
the dlc blade coating is still in pristine shape on my knife.
occasionally, there has been what i thought were scratches on my blade, but instead, it was the material that i had cut, on the surface of the coating.
a wipe down with breakfree or other lube, and the blade cleans right up.
dlc is very durable and tough!
don't hesitate to get a :spyder: with a dlc coated blade. at least a golden model.
it will not disappoint.
later,
don

An all-black Para 2 with black hardware would be equal parts classy and sinister. Perfect !

There are those here who would say that scuffing up the black coating is just an excuse to strip it off and do some customizing. Some people can't leave anything alone....

Some of the older models with black blades are becoming very coveted collector's items here in the past 2 to 3 years or so. For instance the older Perrin and Temperance 1 fixed blades in black are very tough to find and are collector's gems as well.

One of my very favorite black bladed models that I do EDC from time to time is my older C-46 Bob Lum Tanto Folder. It is so cool looking with the black tanto blade and it seems to hold it's coating rather well for one of the older generation models which were notorious for losing their coatings.

There are some models that are made for the black blade coating and there are some models that would not look good with it IMO

I concur with all of the above. I've experienced the same things on my Pacific Salt DLC coating.

I can't say much. I just got my first black Spyder last week..

I have cut plastic straps, wood, and some cardboard with it.

I haven't seen any affect on the DLC coating.

I wish I had it longer so I Had more to tell you.

I'm very happy with it

and very little help. :)

dlc is best suited for blades that can rust like zdp-

anyone own the Tenacious with the black blade? Does that coating from China help with rust resistance?

Any hard use info on the coated axes from china would be nice