Thread: Plating old blades

Just curious if any of you guys have had your old blades plated for restoration and wear reasons? Maybe this wouldnt work well for a razor. I'm a gun buff, and recently had one of my govt models redone by Robar in their NP3 (combo nickel/teflon finish). The gun was blued prior to plating and heres how it turned out

Heres another photo with the original wood grips. I know from using the gun daily the finish is extremely durable and corrosion resistant.

There is no doubt it could be done. many of the old razors had a blue finish on them and many others have gold leaf or wash on them. I don't know anyone who has ever had one of his knives plated and the same goes with straights. I know its different with guns. Just a quick wipe with an oily cloth and you're set. I guess you could plate it with whatever material you want there are many processes, electro, pvd, ion and others. Its all a matter of desire.

My only worry with plating would be the fact that the edge and spine would be scraped free of it, the edge by necessity and the spine as a byproduct of honing.

I have a geneva cutlery that appears to have been plated. I hate it. Geneva cutlery is generally a good brand but this specific blade I don't like

My own feeling is that plating is great for display blades but for working blades I'd rather the blades be plain with no ornamentation unless its carved into the blade. The plating only comes off anyway. The only plating that interests me is a process Casio uses in their high dollar watches called DLC for Diamond like carbon its a xtline carbon material that supposedly wears like diamond and is very durable.

As to the 1911, Les Baer does some nice work doesn't he? I once had a Wilson Combat that I could kick myself for selling. I like the finish on you pistol.

Vern

I cold-blued a spine and tang of a Wade&Butcher I refurbished (I also added studs to the horn scales I fitted to the blade, but that's beside the point). It's hard to see in the photo. But there is a nice black finish.

I was hoping to get a darker black, but that's all I could do for cold-blueing. I was interested in getting what you had done to the gun, however, my impression was that it was slightly expensive, it would have been the entire blade, and the treatment might effect the temper of the razor...

SO, I cheaped out.

On a side note though, the fact that it is removed from the shoulder as you hone is a great thing! It keeps the black straight along the spine. Originally I put tape along the blade, but that only works so well. I had to remove what leached into the tape area by honing the blade...

Keep me posted if you guys decide to try it. I have a few blades I'd sacrifice for the effort

C utz

That's a mightly studly lookin' razor, C utz!

Nice work!

NP3 from Robar is electrically plated, so temper and such wont be an issue. The teflon in the finish makes it very slick well suited to rust and such. The plating is also very uniform. I know it wears extremely well in a holster, but hones are obvioulsy a different story. The only problem would be price. To make is cost effective, several of us would have to place an order together. The gun (included internals too) was about $250 shipping included (and a 15% discount). I doubt is worth it, but it would be cool.