All About Pocket Knives

Or if no one understands English...

Vertigris

I don't chime in much anymore on AAPK mostly because I am just plain getting older and I haven't picked up any new (or old) ones lately. However - for whatever reason - I just had to know what fellow AAPK'rs - ers - watever - thought about vertigris. I personally like it on a stag knife. Not sure why but I do. I havent quite figured out what causes it except I have noticed that it seems to be more prevalent on stag knives.

So what do you all think? do you like it or not?

Also post it if you got it. I would post tonight but it's a bit dark and cant get good pictures right now.

If you are referring to,"verdigris";the greenish paste that forms on non-ferrous metals that are normally in contact with leather,I would have to say an emphatic NO! It is essentially acetic acid and if left on brass or copper it will actually etch the surface permanently.Don't ask HOW I know this!

Welcome back rexstubbins.

I have never heard of 'Verdigris' before now.
I had to research it.
I will hold your request of my opinion until you post a picture of your knife Rex.

"Green of Greece - that is the literal translation of "vert de Grece," the Anglo-French phrase from which the modern word verdigris descends. A coating of verdigris forms naturally on copper and copper alloys such as brass and bronze when those metals are exposed to air. (It can also be produced artificially.) The word verdigris has been associated with statuary and architecture, ancient and modern, since it was first used in the 14th century. Some American English speakers may find that they know it best from the greenish blue coating that covers the copper of the Statue of Liberty."

Dan

Ray is spot-on! I have had Verdigris actually etched the brass on knives. That's especially upsetting when it's a $500 knife. Most generally I see this happen with a non vegetable tanned leather sheath and a knife with brass or nickel silver bolsters. It is the reaction of the acid in the leather or it could be acid in a stag handle what causes Verdigris to form.
Vegetable tanned leather does not seem to cause this reaction but just to be safe if I wish to store knife in the sheath I will put them in a plastic bag. I use different size Ziplocs available on eBay to accommodate the size of the knife and still fit in the sheath. I tend to do that with all leather sheaths because I do not trust my judgment as to whether it's vegetable tanned leather or not.

I also commonly see Verdigris forming on big brass rivets an older sheaths. I'm not sure of a good way to prevent it, but I use an old toothbrush and baking soda, dry, and use it as an abrasive to brush the Verdigris off the leather in between the crevices around the rivet. I usually find that it's very difficult to remove, although and old battery-operated toothbrush usually available at Walmart for under $10 works pretty well. I then usually treat the sheath with lexol or some other good leather preservative.
My method is not perfect but it's the only one I have. If anyone has a better method please share it with us.

Interesting topic. I didn't even know what "Verdigris" is until I Googled it. Although it may "look good" on the Statue of Liberty, then probably only because we have just gotten use to seeing her that way. IMO. But other than that, I'd call it a "NO-GO" on almost any other metal surfaces. Especially on knives. It might look ok on an old bell or something like that.

The color itself is pretty. And I was actually thinking about getting some green paint this morning. I should be getting an old axe head in the mail and it is stamped "OCHSENKOPF GRÜN" (GRÜN=GREEN) So I thought I might give it a base coat of paint in black or silver & then paint the stamp letters Green. "Verdigris" green would look good if I can find something close to that color. Sorry, didn't mean to get off topic.

I'm voting No.

On knives and sheaths.....ABSOLUTELY NO!

It is exactly why I started never storing a knife in a sheath.

I have a Schrade USA 6OT that had been stored in its sheath since the early 2000s by its original owner. There was heavy tarnish, heavy verdigris, and after some heavy scrubbing, deep pits were left behind. And, it wasn't a leather sheath. It was a nylon sheath, so that threw out my theory that "only leather sheaths are the problem".

And aside from carbon steel blades, I really don't like patinas either. There's nothing uglier than when the normally shiny bolsters of my 110 and 6OT get dark.

Hit a nerve on this one I see.

Here is the knife that the Vertigris is starting to form on. I hope the pictures show it. It's not bad but for some reason I like the way it looks. Maybe as it gets worse the less I'll like it? Who knows.

rexstubbins wrote: ↑Sun Mar 28, 2021 2:12 pm Hit a nerve on this one I see.

Here is the knife that the Vertigris is starting to form on. I hope the pictures show it. It's not bad but for some reason I like the way it looks. Maybe as it gets worse the less I'll like it? Who knows.

Do you also like mold on bread??

A nice patina is not objectionable I don’t feel a need to polish my brass. That nice brownish color on brass is fine. but active green verdigris like active red rust is destructive.

I had a newer Buck 110 that I had inadvertently put away and forgot about in the leather belt sheath. I had it out recently and saw the green stuff had started on the brass bolsters. I removed the slimy coating with Brasso and put it away out of the sheath.

Here's a Queen #10 with Winterbottom bone that has what appears to be vertigris showing through the bone. Is this what your talking about Rex?

DM11 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 28, 2021 5:57 pm Here's a Queen #10 with Winterbottom bone that has what appears to be vertigris showing through the bone. Is this what your talking about Rex?

Yes sir that's the stuff!

edge213 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 28, 2021 3:40 pm

rexstubbins wrote: ↑Sun Mar 28, 2021 2:12 pm Hit a nerve on this one I see.

Here is the knife that the Vertigris is starting to form on. I hope the pictures show it. It's not bad but for some reason I like the way it looks. Maybe as it gets worse the less I'll like it? Who knows.

Do you also like mold on bread??

Only on my cheese my friend. Only on my cheese.

rexstubbins wrote: ↑Sun Mar 28, 2021 8:48 pm

DM11 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 28, 2021 5:57 pm Here's a Queen #10 with Winterbottom bone that has what appears to be vertigris showing through the bone. Is this what your talking about Rex?

Yes sir that's the stuff!

What about this. There is a green/greyish tinge starting around 2 of the brass pins, hopefully you can see it. . It only seems to happen on stag covers.

That stuff eats brass, nickel silver and probably other metals. Any folder I have that is stored in a belt sheath gets a plastic bag wrap before going into the sheath.

If mine is what you are talking about, it has never been stored in leather, it just developed naturally.

cudgee wrote: ↑Sun Mar 28, 2021 9:27 pm If mine is what you are talking about, it has never been stored in leather, it just developed naturally.

Not my post, cudgee, I'm just talking about any knife I have that is stored in a sheath (picture attached).

1967redrider wrote: ↑Sun Mar 28, 2021 9:30 pm

cudgee wrote: ↑Sun Mar 28, 2021 9:27 pm If mine is what you are talking about, it has never been stored in leather, it just developed naturally.

Not my post, cudgee, I'm just talking about any knife I have that is stored in a sheath (picture attached).

I did not explain myself very well, sorry. What i meant was that i don't store mine in leather, but this tinge still started, it seems to be very common with stag, even if it not stored in leather. Sorry for the confusion. Have a good week mate.

No

Verdigris offers no protection for the metal. Just makes it look like it
is not being taken care of very well (although a natural occurence)

No!

Bob

I voted yes. I am not a particular fan of vertigris, but I do not hate it either. On an old Hellenic statue or sword, I love it. On my knives ... well I like brass, copper and bronze pins and bolsters. If I am wanting to get a nice photo I will polish up the knife like the top one in this photo. Otherwise I leave it alone. A knife that is carried and used will not develop vertigris or tarnish. And by the way, leather may accelerate vertigris, but it is in no way necessary. How many old tools or statues have you seen that have a beautiful coat of vertigris and were never stored in leather? Certainly the bottom knife in this photo was never kept in leather.

Dinadan wrote: ↑Sun Mar 28, 2021 11:02 pm I voted yes. I am not a particular fan of vertigris, but I do not hate it either. On an old Hellenic statue or sword, I love it. On my knives ... well I like brass, copper and bronze pins and bolsters. If I am wanting to get a nice photo I will polish up the knife like the top one in this photo. Otherwise I leave it alone. A knife that is carried and used will not develop vertigris or tarnish. And by the way, leather may accelerate vertigris, but it is in no way necessary. How many old tools or statues have you seen that have a beautiful coat of vertigris and were never stored in leather? Certainly the bottom knife in this photo was never kept in leather.

No offense meant personally, but the top knife looks nice. The bottom knife looks like crap.

edge213 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 28, 2021 11:27 pm No offense meant personally, but the top knife looks nice. The bottom knife looks like crap.

Well ... I did not bother cleaning it after the last saltwater fishing trip!

How about my copper bust of Tennyson? it has a little more age on it! Last millennium stuff!

Dinadan wrote: ↑Mon Mar 29, 2021 12:47 am

edge213 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 28, 2021 11:27 pm No offense meant personally, but the top knife looks nice. The bottom knife looks like crap.

Well ... I did not bother cleaning it after the last saltwater fishing trip!

How about my copper bust of Tennyson? it has a little more age on it! Last millennium stuff!