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#83992 - 12/20/10 10:40 PM So, how does parkerizing hold up?
Rob_Schoening Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 09/27/05
Posts: 480
Loc: Iowa.
Hi all -
I wanted to share the results of a little test I conducted this afternoon. It is by no means conducted to the same level as the tests that the guy at the Blade conducts, but I was only trying to see how the parkerized finish would hold up to some abuse.

That said, the test was designed more or less mimic normal activites that a military knife might see. Throughout my time in the in the military it seems that most uses my knives saw was cutting MRE packages, boxes of some sort, plastics, rope/cord, and on occassion some wood for a fire.

I'll keep this short and to the point.

The details:
Knife - Model 14, parkerized finish.
Test(s):
-1: Stabbed, slashed, chopped a 5 gallon bucket with 300+ cuts.
-2: Used 200+ cuts to chop a 1X4 piece of Pine in half.
-3: Made 100+ cuts to several heavy carboard boxes.
-4: Drew the knife from the sheath 200+ times.

Outcome: The finish held up GREAT! There were no spots were the finish was worn through to the metal from the tests. It looked as though all the cutting only polished up certain areas of the finish.

Following the tests and some pics, I cleaned the knife up, resharpened it, and then snapped some more pics.

- Rob

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Rob Schoening
www.lhgk.us

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#83994 - 12/20/10 10:44 PM Re: So, how does parkerizing hold up? [Re: Rob_Schoening]
Rob_Schoening Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 09/27/05
Posts: 480
Loc: Iowa.








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Rob Schoening
www.lhgk.us

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#83995 - 12/20/10 10:48 PM Re: So, how does parkerizing hold up? [Re: Rob_Schoening]
Rob_Schoening Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 09/27/05
Posts: 480
Loc: Iowa.
Post test pic:


Cleaned up:


Close up logo side:


Close up non-logo side:
_________________________
Rob Schoening
www.lhgk.us

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#83996 - 12/20/10 10:55 PM Re: So, how does parkerizing hold up? [Re: Rob_Schoening]
Leatherman Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 01/06/06
Posts: 1371
Loc: IL
Wow! that came out great. I would like to see Randall offer a coating.
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Ben

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#84004 - 12/21/10 07:57 AM Re: So, how does parkerizing hold up? [Re: Rob_Schoening]
TonyLaPetri Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 10/05/05
Posts: 6852
Loc: Glen Head NY
Rob,
That's great.
Can you tell us, briefly, how Parkerizing is done?
It seems to hold up pretty darn well!
Thanks,
Tony
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Tony LaPetri
RKS#1885
RKCC CM-022

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#84018 - 12/21/10 04:30 PM Re: So, how does parkerizing hold up? [Re: TonyLaPetri]
Buck Buchanan Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 07/25/10
Posts: 1078
Loc: Fayetteville NC
Tony,

If you go to "Wikipedia" and type in "Parkerizing", there is a technical description on how its done. I've been away from it for about fifteen years, so the process has probably changed and upgraded.

I believe the item (gun{stripped}, knife, etc.)was dipped into the tanks filled with parkerizing solution (still available from Brownells in Iowa).

Fifteen years ago, the drawback to parkerizing was that the solution was good for only one project. A gunsmith couldn't keep the solution for a couple of days or more as he could with regular hot blueing solution.

From 1975 until 1999, we supplied Randalls to men of the 82nd ABN DIV, the 5th & 7th SFG(A) here at Fort Bragg. We, upon request, would take a Randall #1, #14, #15, or #18 to the cabinet and bead-blast it, using aluminum-oxide glass beads under air pressure. Glass bead blasting provides a smoother (less coarse)finish than sand blasting. Then we'd fire up the tanks, and dip only the blade in the hot blueing solution.

Basically, Parkerizing & "BB&B" ("Bead Blast & (hot) Blue") provided the item with two advantages. 1) Minimize light reflection to the "bad guys" 2) Allowed oil to adhere & remain longer to coated metal surfaces.

New processes including epoxy paints and other "mixes" may have eclipsed the parkerizing process, I don't know.
It was very popular in the 20th Century beginning in WWII and beyond. Look at M1 Garands, M1 Carbines, M14's, 1911-A1 pistols, M-3 trench knives, etc.

Other gunsmiths might correct my foggy mind, I hope.

Check out Rick's thread on the Model 18 with new "coat".


Edited by Buck Buchanan (12/21/10 07:04 PM)
Edit Reason: correct error in description
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Buck Buchanan, RKCC #CM-16, RKS #1003
NRA LIFE
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Authorized Randall Dealer
buck100_10x@icloud.com



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#84030 - 12/21/10 09:38 PM Re: So, how does parkerizing hold up? [Re: Buck Buchanan]
TonyLaPetri Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 10/05/05
Posts: 6852
Loc: Glen Head NY
Thanks Buck!
Wikipedia is very helpful ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkerizing
It's interesting that Glock is still using it ...
Glock Ges.m.b.H., an Austrian firearms manufacturer, uses a black Parkerizing process as a topcoat to a Tenifer process
to protect the slides of the pistols they manufacture. After applying the Tenifer process, a black Parkerized finish is applied
and the slide is protected even if the Parkerized finish were to wear off. Used this way, Parkerizing is thus becoming a protective
and decorative finishing technique that is used over other underlying improved techniques of metal protection.

Your additional info is much appreciated.
Tony
_________________________
Tony LaPetri
RKS#1885
RKCC CM-022

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#84032 - 12/21/10 10:30 PM Re: So, how does parkerizing hold up? [Re: TonyLaPetri]
WildBill Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 12/12/10
Posts: 51
Rob, I am really impressed with the outcome of this knife. I wonder what the market would be for the warfighter. If I was over there - I would want one. Is this something you think an aftermarket house might perform? Any idea on cost??

Bill
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Bill
RKS#5892

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#84037 - 12/22/10 08:54 AM Re: So, how does parkerizing hold up? [Re: WildBill]
Rob_Schoening Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 09/27/05
Posts: 480
Loc: Iowa.
Thanks for the resposnses guys!

Yes, the parkerizing finishes wears pretty good and is still in use with todays gun makers and custum builders. I have tried several different finishes on carry guns to include, hot bluing, parkerizing, IonBond's DLC, Wilson Combat's Armor Tuff, Norrell's Moly Resin...all have some advantages and disadvantages.

As far as the parkerizing process, fairly simply once you take the plunge...bead blast and dip in the park solution. You have to take into consideration the edge on the knife after you blast it, so really the process is blast, sharpen, degrease, park, oil, and possably sharpen again.

Buck, I have seen some of the knives your shop offered to guys around Bragg and that is one reason I chose to do a parkerized finsih on these knives. The parkerizing solution I am using can be reused with no problems as long as it is cleaned of "floaties" and stored properly, over time it can loose it's strength, but I have yet to see that.

As far as if I am going ot offer this an option to guys wanting thier Randalls subdued, yes, I am. Not certain on cost, and other details yet.

Thanks again,
Rob
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Rob Schoening
www.lhgk.us

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#84039 - 12/22/10 09:31 AM Re: So, how does parkerizing hold up? [Re: Rob_Schoening]
WildBill Offline
Knife Enthusiast

Registered: 12/12/10
Posts: 51
Rob, I think you really have a winner there - Please let me (us) know if you plan to do this in volume.

BTW - I would hate to be the bucket! yikes!!
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Bill
RKS#5892

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