I force them. why?
Because I don't bother cleaning, oiling or waxing my knives like some folk, I just can't be bothered. But I still use them and nearly all are carbon steel so if I force a deep patina early on I can just wipe the knife down on my jeans and shuv it back in it's sheath without caring all too much about it rusting or whatever. I left a mora of mine that had no patina in it's sheath after cutting green wood and about a week later orange nasy rust formed on it. I sanded it all off and forced a black patina on it, now when I use one and don't clean it it's no way near as bad and that suits me fine!