Quote Originally Posted by Tallm View Post
... This is why the lower quality blades have more of a satin appearance...
No, it is not the reason. It was to cater to the taste of someone who did not like a mirror finish. Unsurprisingly, this subject has been done to death more than a few times too, on this site. The same steel was either 'glaze finished' (aka blue-glazed, emery abrasive, fine, wooden wheel lapped with leather esp. walrus hide) or 'crocus' finished (aka 'black polished' - hard cutting iron oxide plus wax plus suet on a wooden wheel lapped with lead).

Regards,
Neil