A true Crocus finish is a bright “Mirror” finish. But I have noticed some are calling a brighter satin finish a crocus finish. I have also notice on knife sites were some are referring to shiny mirror finish as “glazed”.
As many may know slipjoint blades were finished primarily two different ways. One was called a "glazed" finish, the other a "crocus" finish. The glazed finish is similar to a "as ground" finish many custom makers use now. The crocus finish while not easily replicated today is similar to a mirror polish. At times many slipjoint manufactures would put a crocus finish on the mark side and a glazed finish on the pile side of the blade.
If you hand sand with Crocus Cloth after 1k you can get a soft satin finish but if you continue to polish or use oil it will go to shiny mirror. The trick to a good satin finish as well is to go to at least 1k or 2k finish then lay your satin one directional finish over the polished finish.
Most modern satin used on knives, is 6 or 800 one directional sanding or one directional stroking or Scotchbrite.
The old Sheffield finish was Crocus, (Iron Oxide) on seal or walrus skin covered wooden wheels with hide glue on Crocus powder/flower at about 800 rpm. Some say only Seal/Walrus skin can reproduce that finish.
Mike, Wolfpack34 has perfected a very nice and uniform “Satin” and his two tone, satin/mirror is awesome. It is a good look on old Sheffield’s. Satin works well with razors where some pitting will have to be left.
Here is a good link to S
heffield Crocus Finish.