A couple of äntique" knives

[Joel]

Justa prove I"m not bored with carbon steel, although the only one I normally use is A-2,  here's a couple of "fun"knives I made during last winter's cabin fever spell.  The top one is a copy of  a colonial belt knife(notice the strong Scot's influence) ground from an old swedish sandvik file I had laying around and handled in a piece of whitetail crown that  I'd dyed a couple of years before with leather dye.  Bolster is copper of course, as is the pin.  I left it kinda "rough" to simulate being made, maybe, in some pioneer's smithy. Blade is triple tempered and was frozen twice.  The second knife is a Green River Knife that I''d bought for a girlfriend who wanted to  try her hand at knifemaking, after I'd made her one(country girl). She never got around to it, so I decided to gussey it up a bit with a copper bolster and N/S pins.  Still historically correct, çause that was done  occasionally to the originals.  Both knives were first etched in Jalapeno mustard and then given the Casey's Browning Solution treatment. Made them when I was getting interested in "rendezvous", until I went to a couple and ended up disgusted with them.   That steel in the Green River holds an edge forever.....I made another one just for the fun of it(and to use) and it now resides with my son-in-law.

[Woodbutcher]

Joel, gee, you do nice work! But jalepeno mustard? As I live and learn!
                                                           Woodbutcher

[Joel]

Yeah.  I like it better than regular mustard for aging a carbon blade. Leaves a subtle "casehardening" effect you can see if  you hold it in the sun.  Regular mustard also works well.......never tried Grey Poupon.  I slather it on the blade, and leave alone for a couple of hours, then wash it off.  If that doesn't look right, slather for a couple of more hours.  Regular vinegar is also great for darkening/greying carbon steel.  Some folks like to colour their kitchen knives before they get all those random stains on them.....or if they build primitive knives, for the aging effect.  I hear sticking a blade in a potato also works....never tried it.  Others dunk their blades into large canned tomato cans.......notice it's always some sort of acid thing.

[Woodbutcher]

Dear Joel:
 I've heard of tobacco juice or tar for staining wood, salt and lemon juice for shining copper, even sugar free Kool-aid for dying feathers for fly-tying, but you have me on this one.
 By the way, I've had my eye on them Green River blades for a long time, and now you've made up my mind for me. Thank you.
 Ain't it nifty how the designs from 200 years ago are so...unnecessary to change? Or, to put it another way, ya got somethin that works better?
                                                               Woodbutcher
 Please check your PM

[Will52100]

Looking good.  While it's hard to beat a nice hand rubed finish, for a working carbon steel knife I like the patina or etched finish, for one thing the customers are not quite so scared to use it!

[Joel]

Yeah, I'm like you.  These are the only two knives I've done this to, and they were an experiment kinda.  Everything else gets mirror polished(by hand). Never satin finished one in my life, and really don't want to. Lazy...to get a great satin finish, I was told you need to mirror finish first, then bring them down.  Figured, hell as long as I'm here, I ain't goin'back. Did have a couple bead blasted once, actually it was only supposed to be one, but they did both by mistake. Got a free heat treat out of it(TKS).  Both those ATS-34 blades stained and rusted in no time.  Tried to warn them, but, you know, they look COOl that way.   :x

[scherm]

Nice work Joel, that finish would have looked nice on the Buffalo Skinner I mace for a Cowboy Action Shooter buddy of mine.  I'll have to try that next time.

[Joel]

Woodbutcher,
 Nothing in my PM inbox.  GB's been a little wierd lately. If the PM's not working, and you want to talk off forum, reach me at joelcb@pennswoods.net.