Weird blade “shadows” on Shaman

[Manifestgtr]

I have this really weird thing going on with my 15v Shaman. It’s like it reacts to some sort of magnetic field in the scales and takes on the “shadow” of the liners, etc. I can sort of get rid of it…or at least minimize it with a good wipe down…but it always reappears. Has anyone else experienced this and/or figured out a way to get rid of it?

[Michal O]

Looks like reaction with your sweat on fingers and when you carry it in pocket.

[Evil D]

Every 15v model I have has this, which includes the Shaman, two Military 2's and two Mules.

[Brock O Lee]

Every 15v model I have has this, which includes the Shaman, two Military 2's and two Mules.

Interesting, I do not have this on any of my 15V models (x6). I've seen it on one or two other satin knives though.

That looks like a variation of the scratch pattern? Did they replace the belt or adjust the grind angle at that point? I think a stone wash is a good remedy, but perhaps they needed a bit more tumble time in your case.

Edit: I could not recall seeing those parallel grind lines on my Shaman. I checked now, and it is a perfectly smooth stone wash. I did not realise some came with such pronounced grind lines!

The user Military 2 is almost completely smooth, apart for a few lines near the plunge line where the tumble media did not reach the area well.

[Evil D]

Every 15v model I have has this, which includes the Shaman, two Military 2's and two Mules.

Interesting, I do not have this on any of my 15V models (x6). I've seen it on one or two other satin knives though.

That looks like a variation of the scratch pattern? Did they replace the belt or adjust the grind angle at that point? I think a stone wash is a good remedy, but perhaps they needed a bit more tumble time in your case.

That's my take, looks like grind lines that didn't get completely removed/hidden by the stonewashing process. This Shaman is the most pronounced.

[Michal O]

Maybe force patina?

[WilliamMunny]

It does look like some type of patina. Total guess but the lighter color seems to be where the liners were, maybe they had some extra oil on them that protected just that part of the knife from some element exposure while in storage.

Only other silly thought is if it went though some type of x-Ray in shipping to the distributor or the end customer. The lines could have blocked the exposure while the rest of the blade was directly exposed. Total out there guess but it looks like the blade got a "tan" expect where the liners were.

[BeggarSo]

This steel is Haunted / Spooked it takes on many different appearances that dissappear with a quick wipe.

Nothing quite like yours is doing but it looks cool, chalk it up to being very unique in that it even does this.

You know like Microsoft it ain't a flaw it's an undocumented feature

[Danke]

15V is definately not stainless. Patina will form. Slower than some of the other non-stainless steels but it will form.

[Jeb]

Guys, I think those are finger shadows, from the guys that was doing the final polish/grind at the manufacture.

You get on raw and warmed steel with your paws while it's still warmed up from the final finishing passes, those ain't coming out.

Same thing with like your chromed headers for instance, you leave greasy paw prints on a header tube and then fire up the engine, that paw print is cooked into the metal and it's really hard to get that out.

Your sweat and or oily skin is all it takes. It can even happen wearing latex gloves. With the gloves on you won't get the print of the finger, just the shadow. Which is what these pix of yours looks like to me anyway.

[The Mastiff]

Have you tried "Flitz" or a good wax/polish with Rennisance wax or similar? It should come out unless it's deep oxidation with pitting.

[Pokey]

I have a Tenacious with a “fingerprint” on each side of and across the spine of its M4 blade. It can only be seen under the right lighting and at the right angle.

Could it be a water spot from the tumbling process? I don’t know.

[Danke]

Folks at the factory are wearing gloves. Even the robots.



You know who doesn't normally wear gloves? The end user of a knife. Unless you're an influencer making an unboxing video, then surgical gloves are mandatory.

[Manifestgtr]

Guys, I think those are finger shadows, from the guys that was doing the final polish/grind at the manufacture.

Under normal circumstances, I’d be inclined to agree. The thing about this particular phenomenon is that it lines up dead perfectly with the liners. The holes form a perfect “shadow” of the weight relief in the liners. Also, it completely disappears where the liners end…which is what leads me to believe that it has something to do with magnetism, etc.

[Danke]

Ah Magnets! Is there nothing they can't explain.

[Brock O Lee]

If not magnetism, my money is on a solar flare.

[Danke]

The moon is good too. Lots of stuff gets weird because of the moon.

If only there was someone on here who was deep into 15V.

@Deadboxhero

[BeggarSo]

I'm telling ya the stuff is Spooked but what about the robots pads that sharpen them, possibly magnetics, have you put the blade next to iron filings or something light weight and magnetic? Maybe a sewing needle?

[Jeb]

Ah, of coarse it's the moon, we are only days away from a full moon right now... the only thing here; you guys are what the full moon is affecting

All joking aside, after reading this lines up with the cut outs of the liners, my next assumption would be that the added gap in that area between the scales, liners and your blade allows more atmosphere which if it's been in your pocket much at all; you look at your blade and tell me if the side that is against your leg as it's clipped to your pocket is worse than the side away from your leg...

I know that, the side of our K390 blades that's against the leg as we carry them is aways way more rusted up down here in Texas. The sweat vapor off our leg as we are going and doing nukes our blades.

This might just be the very faint beginning of that just starting to show up and will show up there because of the more exposure to the atmosphere.

Edit: just love threads like this, allows for great ideas being thrower into the mix fellows. Now you guys don't let the near full moon nuke you, as it most certainly nukes the heck out of me...

[Pokey]

Something in the scales is outgassing. The vapors are blocked to a certain extent by the liner except where the lightening holes are. Does it do it on both sides of the blade?

Try this, wipe the spots off the blade, fold a piece of paper into a V-shape and slip it over the blade. Close the blade and let it sit for the usual amount of time for the spots to show up and see if they return. Or if you’re carrying it try a piece of masking tape on the blade then see if they return.

Let us know what you find.