A Custom order Hudson Bay Knife with Tiger Maple

This week I am posting a custom order Hudson Bay Camp
Knife.

This is one of my Swept blade versions with a pattern
and patina aged finish blade.

The handle is tiger maple with brass pins over brass
washers.

The sheath was hand stitched, antiqued and made to wear
high to cross draw the knife.

Thank you
Matt
ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com

The Hudson Bay Camp Knife Custom with Osage

This is a recently completed Hudson bay camp knife
from my shop.

This camp knife has a high aged pattern and patina
finish blade and is about 8 inches long.

The handle is antiqued Osage orange and you can
see from the photo the sheath was customized as well.

This was made with a pancake style set up for a left
hand draw.  The blade only goes into the sheath
deep enough where the handle ends.

I wish you all a Happy New Year.

Thank you
Matt
ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com

Hudson Bay Camp Knife with Antiqued Hickory

Posted below is a recently completed Hudson Bay Camp knife
My H1 Design in a straighter version.

This custom has an antiqued hickory handle with barss pins
and washers.  The spine has been file worked as well.

Sheath has been hand stitched, antiqued  and made to wear high
on the belt for a right hand cross draw.

Also if you have been wondering what number Trail Fighter I am
working on.  #31 is my most recent forged custom order
work in progress with black dymonwood handle.

Thank you
Matt
ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com

Bone Handled Hudson Bay Camp Knife

Recent custom work of a Hudson bay camp knife.  This
blade was about 8 inches long pattern and patina aged .

Handle is antiqued bone with some hand carved hatching.
Pins are brass pins over brass washers.

Hand stitched belt Sheath.

An Additional Photo has been posted up on Flickr
as well.

Thank you

Matt
ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com

Hudson Bay Camp Knife with Patina

This is a recent custom order Hudson bay Camp knife.
The H2 option on my order page.
This one was ordered with pattern and patina aged blade
and some very nice black walnut.  Brass pins over
brass washers. The sheath was set up to wear high
and cross draw the knife.

I was on my way out from the shop and heard this cardinal
singing a song, so I took a decent picture to share.

Thank you

Matt
ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com

Hudson bay and a man in the moon

This weeks blog post I have a custom order Hudson bay camp
knife to show you.   This is similar in design to the one I have
carried for years that you have seen pictures and videos of.

The blade is 8 inches long patina aged, with an aged blade walnut
handle, 2 brass pins over brass washers.  The sheath is hand stitched
and made to wear high and cross drawn.

Also posting some pictures of a recent leather piece I did that was posted
on  my Available Leather Pieces Page.  This page is updated weekly.

This as all my leather work was carved, tooled and done free hand, including
the stitching and layout of the leather.   This is one of my custom credit card
license keepers.  This style also will hold business cards and some cash.

Thank you
Matt
ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com

A Decent Pack Basket..With the Hudson bay Camp Knife

Wandering through the woods, hiking and the like I love bringing

my side bag that you have all seen in my posts and on my website.

Nothing will replace it, as a matter of fact allot of time I wear 2

bags criss cross.

This being said I have been using a pack basket lately and I figured

I would give a shout out to the folks that made one for me and my wife.
(Also know as the Trapper's Basket)

The 2 pack baskets I had made were purchased from Ridgerunner's

Adirondack Pack Baskets. I will post the link to the website at the
end of this.

These baskets are hand woven from reed, not from pounded ash.  They
are decently made and stout enough to handle a trip through the thick back
country.  I have used mine as well as my wife without any trouble at all.

I have mine packed with everything I think I may need for a day (or
longer in the woods).

My pack basket is on the right and is the Medium sized basket 18" tall.  My
Hudson bay camp knife is shown by the basket and should give
you a good idea of the size as the blade is 8" long on my camp knife.
One of my personal knives next to the Hudson has about a 4" blade.

The Basket on the left is my wife's the youth basket 15" tall.  I would say
either sized basket would work well for a full grown man, just depends
on what you want to pack in it and what your needs are.

Both Baskets have cotton webbing straps and are fully adjustable.
These baskets can be ordered natural or stained.  I picked the natural
and I will let nature age it and get all kinds of good patina going on it.

My Hudson Bay Camp knife inside the pack basket should give you a good idea of the opening size

Now for how the pack basket works out in the wild.  I have found that wearing this
pack basket is very comfortable.  The reed kinda forms to your back when you put
it on and get trudging through the thick brush, and I didn't seem to have much of an
issue with this hanging up on thick brush as I thought it might.  These are also very
stout and durable like I mentioned above, don't get me wrong I don't think you could
do a dance on the basket without destroying it, but for what I put it through it seems
to hold up fine.

I also find it very easy to get to things I have packed in the basket, no need to unzip
zippers or fumble around with pockets and if you find something in the woods like a
neat old stone just throw it in the back and your good to go. Also with the weight I
had in it at one point I didn't find this basket breaking down in any way. I would say
I have a good 25 pounds in it or even more.

You might be thinking, that sounds great but what about a down pour?   I have found
a simple answer to this.  Although plastic zip bags aren't traditional, they work good
to store everything that could get damaged or ruined in rain.   Another solution that
I will probably make in the future is a well oiled leather top.

Nothing more needs to be added here.  I just thought a decent made item needed to
be shared.  If you love traditional gear you may want to give a pack basket a try.

Bottom side of the pack basket.

The website for
Ridgerunner's Adirondack Pack Baskets


Thank you

Matt
ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com

Hudson bay Camp Knife Custom

This knife was a custom order Hudson bay camp knife.

Blade is at around 8 inches with a 5 inch aged black walnut
handle.  Brass pins and brass washers.  

This one was ordered with a tapered or sharpened style
clip. 

Hand stitched Sheath was set up wear high and cross draw.

If you have followed my blog posts long enough you know as well as making
knives, and leather work,  I am also a woods walker, hunter and outdoors man.

For years I have been admiring this tree in one of my hunting spots.  thought
you would all like to see it.



I also didn't get a chance to post any veg garden pics this year.
This picture was taken when things were already growing well
I think it was mid July.   This year all the tomatoes were planted
in buckets.  The year before we had so much rain and water this
idea worked out real well.

 

Thank you

Matt

ML Knives

http://www.mlknives.com

 

Woods Runner Set..Custom bag..Kephart..hudson bay and game hunting knife

One of my Woods runner sets, customized.

This was done for a special custom order
3 knives, the bag and also included was
one of my custom ferro rods and coffin
fire steels.

Some additional information on this set.
The kephart is antiqued stag with a free hand
tooled belt sheath.  The blade being a cleaner
finish.

The Hudson bay camp knife is my H2 version
with aged dark black walnut, steel pins
over brass washers.

The last knife was a mid sized knife that could
be used for many woods, and hunting chores.
The blade being pattern and patina aged with
antiqued elk stag handle.  The sheath as
well as the others was hand stitched and also
has my free hand hand tooled line work.

The bag was entirely hand worked as well, all the
leather was hand stitched and oiled by hand several
times.  The bags button was made from antler.
If you look at the last picture you can see both
the hudson bay and the mid sized stag knife can
be carried on the bag, the sheaths can also be worn
on the belt if wanted.

You all have a great 4th of July

Thank you

Matt

ML Knives

http://www.mlknives.com/

The Big Knife Handling and Carry Options Part 2

The big knife.  Gotta love the larger sized knives they are great for many
tasks.

A handling option for you to consider:  You may do this or have tried this
before.

One thing that can be handy for handling a large knife when no lanyard
hole is sunk into the back end of your handle and you would like the extra
security at the moment is to wrap the handle when needed with cord. 

I attached a video below to show you what I mean.

Also If you have followed my blog now for awhile you know I used to post updates
every year of our Veg Garden.
Here  are some  pictures.

Here is a video of the early stages before any plants..hopefully the
season is good.

Thank you
Matt
ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com

The Big Knife..Handling and Carry options.Part1

I wrote and article awhile back about large knives in early America
since then and for a long while I have been thinking about
writing another on large knives and ways to carry them, and work with
them.

Carrying a large knife is very common for me as it was many years
ago for so many.  My one main large knife carry is still my old original
Hudson bay style camp knife.  It has been around for years now
and I have not been easy on it but it is still a great knife.  Every
ding I put in the handle and  each section of new patina
is just added to the history and character of the knife.  When
I need it or want to carry it I grab it and know it is comfortable
in my hands and I can count on it.

My Personal original Hudson bay..keeps on going.

One of the main questions I will get asked about large knives is
"What is the best way to carry the knife or what do you recommend?"

For most new knife users I will either go with the high ride set up
and if this isn't settling well I will mention the standard fold over
with a belt loop.  Both will work great it is just a matter of what
someone likes and if your new to knives you may not have an idea
of this yet.

If your a long time knife user more often than not you will know exactly
how you like to wear your knife.

Keep in mind  as well a large sized knife can be used for many daily
tasks especially around camp, everything from the cook pot to
fire making and even defense.

Part 2 Coming soon.

The original  large knives article can be viewed here
Large Knives Were Common in Early America


Thank you
Matt
ML Knives
http://ww.mlknives.com/

Hard Using White Oak and some kepharts

Handle material selection on a custom knife can sometimes
be hard for someone to choose, especially if it's your first
custom or your not familiar with certain hardwoods, or
all you have is plastic handled knives.

If you love traditional knives, guns, bows or you just
love traditional style work there are many hard woods
to pick from, Tiger Maple is one of my favorites and
holds up well, as well as black walnut.  If you had
watched some of my videos you have seen my
old Hudson bay camp knives that I made years ago
and it has a black walnut handle and is still going
strong.  Hickory is very durable as well as Ash wood
and red oak, the list goes on.

Stag is very nice and another topic all together
this post is focused on wood.

Sometimes White oak gets over looked or
forgotten about. 



This wood is very durable
and dense as well and has been used for many
years in furniture building, construction
of large ships, timber frame buildings and more.

Below is one of my Bush hunting and survival knives
(Model 257)...with an extended 5 inch blade,
antiqued white oak handle.

Kephart group shot, Top knife is tiger maple,
center kephart, green canvas micarta and the last
kephart is antiqued black walnut.

Thank you
Matt
ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com

Hudson Bay Camp Knife with Stag

Awhile back I did a post on this Custom Hudson Bay Camp knife.
I thought I would put the pictures and info up here for you to see
as well as an additional picture of the spine.

This customized Knife has a blade about 7 inches long.
The handle is beautiful antiqued stag with brass pins over
brass washers.  The spine is about 3/16" thick.

The sheath is hand stitched and made to be worn high
and cross drawn right handed.

Thank you
Matt
ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com/

Hudson Bay Camp Knife with Trade Bead Cross

Originally Posted  on the June 12th, 2011

If you have passed by my blog more than once or my website
you have seen my personal Hudson bay camp knife. If not
I am posting a current picture of it below. It has aged
beautifully and looks as if it has passed through time.
I would also like to mention the trade bead silver cross in
the pictures. This was done for me by a nice gentleman
by the name of Kirk Preti of Good Medicine Beads. It is a
beautiful piece that I will be wearing everyday. The beads
are all original period and the finest I have seen. I will be
using all of his beads on any of the danglers or period pieces
that call for them in the future.
I am posting Kirk’s card below and on my link’s page of my website.

Thank you

Matt
ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com/

Carry and Camp Knife ML Knives

Originally Posted on the March 22nd, 2009

I had a few minutes this week and with the warmer weather coming to grab one of my personal camp knives and use it for awhile. I have had this knife for years and it goes on most of my hunting, hiking outdoors trips. The knife is my hudson bay camp knife, with a double pinned aged walnut handle. Forged 1095 high carbon. I attached a small video clip link for all of you to enjoy.

Thank you
Matt
ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com