Vintage aged bone handled Hunter Knife

This is a custom order vintage style hunting and skinning knife.

The handle is antiqued bone with five steel pins, both hand hatched
and carved.

The blade is short of 4" and has been patina aged and the clip has
a slight taper.

The sheath has been hand stitched and antiqued an the face has
been free hand tooled and carved with a unique scroll and vine
design.

Also, I am in the process of a website & blog update that has been a long

time coming.  This change will be a better, easier way to navigate the website

and have a very clean look to it.  When everything is all set a newsletter will be 

sent and I will post here.

Thank you.

Matt

ML Knives

http://www.mlknives.com

Importance of a Good welted Knife Sheath

One of the main things when it comes to knife sheaths,
in my mind, is not only making a sheath that looks great
but is also functional. The most important aspect is a full
solid welt.

For all of you that already know what a welt is on a
sheath this may be a little redundant.  This is for new
readers, frequent readers of my blog, and visitors to
my website that are looking for information and tips.

A decent knife sheath shouldn't be a single piece
of light weight plastic or leather. Simply folding
over a piece of material, with a  few rivets or a
 small light weight line of stitching, can be risky.

This will only make the sheath and knife more
dangerous inside the sheath especially if your in
some back country, climbing a tree stand or
any outdoor venture.

A sharp knife blade can easily come through the
side of a sheath that has no welt. A sharp knife can
cut into flesh before you would even know it.

So basically a welt almost acts like a guard for
the blade.  The pic below shows the side shot of
one of my hand stitched sheaths with solid
8 to 9 ounce leather.  All of my sheaths have a full
welt.

Also posted below is some custom work recently completed.
This is one of my H7 Hand Jigged Hunting Skinner's.
This knife has hand jigged horn with large brass pins.
The sheath is in the process of being worked on.

Thank you very much for everything,
Matt
ML Knives
http://www.mlknives.com

A Set of custom knives for a Woodsman

This week I am posting a set of custom knives.

The top knife has a blade just about 4 inches long
and has a nice drop point blade.

The bottom knife is a smaller knife set up for
wearing as a neck knife with a blade about
2 1/2" long.

Both of these knives have a lighter patina aged
finish and file worked spines.

They also both have some really nice aged
old rough cut maple handles.

Both of the sheaths were hand stitched
and antiqued.

If you haven't had a chance to check out 

Edge and Care its available on Amazon as an

E-Book and has been in the top 100 in metal work.

Thank you 

Matt ML Knives

http://www.mlknives.com

Cross Forged Stag Hunting and Field Knife

This weeks custom is a really nice Stag hunting and field knife
with a cross forged pattern aged blade that is about 4" long.

The sheath was hand stitched and you can see the hand tooled
and carved with a buck deer.

A New video has been posted of one of my coffin shaped fire steels.

Also a New update.   The website will be updated with "Add to Cart" options on
more of my Special order knives just like the AA2 Camp and field.  The
Order Form option will be left as well as I know many prefer using the mail in
method as well.

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

Drop Point Woods set in Bone

The set posted below was custom ordered.

This is one of my Drop Point Woods set with forged fire
steel and custom ferro rod.  The ferro rod  end was made
from an antler tine.

The blade on this custom have a pattern and patina aged
finish, at about 4 inches long.  Handle is lightly antiqued bone
with brass pins.

All of my sheaths are custom cut, fit and hand stitched and this
one has duel side loops for the steel and ferro rod.

I have also posted a recent video below of one of my custom Cross forged large
game knives with a custom rawhide sheath.

Thank you.

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

Beavertail Hunting and Skinning knife....Sheath work Info

This is one of my custom order Beavertail Hunting and skinning
Knives.

This one was ordered with a custom ferro rod to go with
the sheath.

The blade on these have a cross forged pattern as well as
the rear steel but end of the knife.  The spine is also file
worked (jimped).

Handle is Tiger maple with large brass pins and the
sheath was hand stitched with free hand tooled and carved
work on the face.

Sheath work Information.
As most of you know I  make knives for a living and also do a
deal of leather work.   All of my sheaths are hand worked and hand stitched by me.

I also stitch sheaths for other knives when I am asked.  I get a fair amount of
requests for sheath and custom leather tooling work.  Keep in mind if you
want me make a sheath for any knife I do need the knife shipped to me so I
can wet form the leather to the knife.  Nothing else will work, cardboard
cut outs, tracings wont make for a decent sheath.
A link to my sheaths page 
A link to my Available leather work page (Updated often)

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

Cross Forged Large Game knife by ML Knives

I have made a number of Cross forged pattern Knives
starting back maybe in 2003 and this design I started
offering in a Sporting Classics Magazine Ad a few
years ago if I remember right.

Called the Cross forged Large Game knife.

This knife is an excellent design and has a blade about
4 1/2" long with a file worked spine with tiger maple handle.
The blade also has 4 brass pins and brass lined rear
lanyard hole.

Sheath is hand stitched as all my sheaths.

Also the final video for the Country Bag is posted.

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

Straight back Bush and Hunting knife ....Ways to carry a knife part 1

This week I have this custom set I recently completed minus a mini
strop I am working on.

The knife has a blade a little under 4 inches with pattern and patina
aging, handle is tiger maple with brass pins and lanyard hole
and is about 4 1/2" long.

Sheath is hand stitched and high aged.  You can see there is no
loop on the sheath for the ferro rod.  This steel and matching ferro
rod will be carried separate.

A new video has been posted as well.  I made this video to give some ideas for neck
knife carry.   Neck knives can be carried many more ways other than around the
neck.

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

Vintage looking straight back knife

This blog post is a mid week look at one of may past works.

This knife has a vintage look to it and very similar is style to
my straight back kephart.

Blades was  about 4 inches and handle about the same
with black walnut and five brass pin configuration.

Sheath is hand stitched and was set up to wear on the belt.

A design such as this one is handy for hunting, survival and wilderness
work and well as all around use.

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

Fighter Style knife with Horizontal Belt Sheath

Recent custom work below is a shorter style Fighter.

The design of this this blade would also be well suited for
many things such as hunting, and wilderness work.

Some info on this custom.

Blade is about 4 1/4" with pattern and patina aging, the
beefed up 3/16" spine has file worked thumb stops.

The blade also has a tapered forward swedge that is about
2" in length.

The handle is carved black horn with brass pins and lanyard
hole.  The tang is also exposed at the back end about .25
you have seen this on some of my other knives.  The handle
length on this is about 4 1/2"

The sheath is distressed, black, hand stitched and set to
wear horizontal.

A recent trip into the wilderness I found what I thought was a unique
looking tree.  Attached a video.



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

Beautiful Tiger maple on a Short Hunter Caper Knife

This post I just wanted to show a close up picture of
one of my custom order short hunter caper knives.

This knife has been handled with some really nice tiger
maple, seems like every time you turn the handle
in the light the contrast and grain looks a bit different.

A creek I live close to has always had beaver in it as you can see below  by the
fresh chew.

 

Thank you for reading

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

Custom Straight back frontier hunter

Recently completed below is a custom straight back

frontier hunter with a slight drop point tip of the blade.

The handle is antiqued stag with brass pins at about
4 inches long.  The blade is about 3 1/2" long and
has a pattern and patina aged blade.

The sheath is hand stitched and dark brown, this
was set up to wear high on the belt and cross drawn.

I also had a chance to get out and do a little woods roaming with a new pack basket.

Thank you

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

Round knife blade restore

If you love old cutlery or vintage working tools then this is something
you will like to see.

This is an old Diston head knife, some call a round knife from the 1800's.
If you are passing by my blog or just don't know what a head knife
is this is a tool used for many years by leather workers for trimming
and cutting leather.  Diston made excellent saws as well.

What I did for this old tool was reground and re-sharpened the edge.
It is now stropped to a  razor sharp edge. If you look closely at one
of the pictures you will see the makers stamp still in the blade.

Everything else bolster and handle was left original.

 



























Also here is a recent custom order from my shop.  This is one of my  Stag hunting
and field knives with about a 4 inch blade.  File worked spine and hand stitched
belt sheath.  I have more examples on Special order page 3 of my website.
This page will be updated with new photos soon.


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



Interesting tree I found.. 

A Straight back custom knife beefed up

This is a custom I made not to long ago and found a

home from my website.

I figured you would like to see some additional pictures.

This knife if I am remembering right had about a 4 inch blade
with a beefed up 3/16" spine.  At the forward point of the blade
there is a tapered swedge clip.   The spine has also been
hand file worked with jimping.

The handle is aged black walnut and the sheath was hand stitched.
The face of the sheath was hand tooled with acorns, scrolls and vines.

 

 

 

Thank you

Matt

ML Knives

http://www.mlknives.com

 

 

Hunting and trail knife from past work

This is a custom knife from my past work photos.

A nice style for many uses, hunting and trail use,
also nice for food or freshwater fish.

Blade was about 4 1/2" long if I remember right with a light
pattern aged blade.  The spine was file worked.

The handle is tiger maple with steel pins.   Sheath was hand stitched.

You can see by the pic as well,  this is one of the few photos without
my Indian head penny

Thank you

Matt

ML Knives

http://www.mlknives.com/

Hunting and skinning knife with vintage Frontier Style

This is a knife from my past work collection of images.

Blade on this was a bit over 4 inches with patina aging
and a file worked spine.  The handle is aged elk stag
with steel pins.  Sheath was hand stitched.

On a recent trip to the woods a beaver was  making his way

away from his home, maybe looking for some food!  I took

a quick picture, the best I could get on the move.

Thank you

Matt

ML Knives

http://www.mlknives.com

Woods Knife forged pig tail lanyard

 






This is a past work piece with a forged steel pig tail
lanyard at the but end of the handle. I think I may
have this posted on one of my past work galleries
but thought it would be nice to post here as well.

Handle was done in tiger maple and the blade has a
light pattern and patina aged finish.  Blade being over
4 inches in length.

Thought you would all enjoy this picture.


















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

Hunting Skinner Past work with Spalted Maple

Here is one of my past work pieces, a hunting Skinner and all
around great trail knife.

This had a 4 plus inch blade with file work.

the handle is antiqued spalted maple with brass pins.

Sheath is hand stitched and set up to be worn on a
belt.

I also uploaded a new video of a beautiful custom Bowie knife
that you may like.

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

Kephart Custom with horizontal sheath

This kephart knife was recently completed for a
custom order.

This custom has a tiger maple handle, brass pins and
lanyard.  The blade is pattern and patina aged.

The sheath is hand stitched and set up horizontal to
wear on the back and drawn out right handed.

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

Vintage style hunting trail skinning knife...Past work

A mid week update..

The knife below is from my past work collection
of photos.
This piece has beautiful vintage style, with a patina aged
blade and file work on the spine. 
If I remember right the blade was about 4 inches long.
and perfect for many uses such as hunting and skinning,
general woods use.

Handle is dark curly maple, oiled by hand with steel pins.

The sheath was stitched by hand.

Thank you

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