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 straight back custom knife with a vintage style. Tooled leather wallet

This week I'm posting a custom order Vintage style straight back
knife with a blade that is about 4 1/2" long.

The finish is a pattern and patina aged finish and the spine has
been file worked.

The handle is about equal in length and in antiqued hickory
with brass pins.

The sheath was antiqued and hand stitched.

Below is a detail photo of one of my custom hand tooled and carved wallets.
More details and info can be found on my
Available Leather Pieces Page

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

A timeless knife design For any Woodsman

This knife was a custom ordered straight back design
with a light patina aged blade.

The blade length is about 4 3/4" long with a nice belly,
this is sharpened from tip to hilt.

The handle is beautiful grained ironwood with brass pins
and rear lanyard hole.

The sheath was hand stitched and antiqued in a dark brown.

Some recent tooled leather carving close up photo.

You can see more of this work
om my available leather pieces page.


Thank you
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

A custom kephart knife with stag handle and tooled Bear Sheath

This week's post is one of y custom kephart knives with
a beautiful antiqued elk stag handle.

As you can see from the photo this kephart has brass pins
and rear lined lanyard hole.

The spine on this one is 3/32" thick.

The sheath has been customized as well with some of my
original artwork.  It has a bear and mountains scene.
This is one of my paddle style sheaths that was chosen.

Thank you

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

Bird Trout Game knife and Custom Kephart Fisher

Recent custom work posted below.  One of custom Bird Trout
game knives and a custom kephart fisher.

Both knives were handled with a brown canvas micarta and have green
liners behind the handle and tang.

These knives also have my pattern and patina aged finish.

Sheath are Hand Stitched and antiqued dark brown.

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

Straight Back Custom with Stag

Recent custom work from my shop posted below.

This is a straight back design that is very traditional with a blade
about 5 inches long.

The handle on this is stag with three copper pins that have been
left with a vintage look.

The hand stitched sheath is a special order as well with a custom
brass snap flap.

A New Video has been posted as well.

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

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

Jigged horn Hunting Skinning Knife

This knife I made awhile back as a custom order to be used
as a large game hunting and skinning knife.  This knife would
also easily handle many field tasks as well.

Knife was made with a blade about 4 1/2" long pattern and
patina aged with hand file worked spine.

Handle is black horn that was jigged by hand.  Brass pins and
rear lanyard hole.

Belt sheath was hand stitched.

A new photo below from a recent woods journey.

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

Close Fighter Custom

Back I think it was in 2005 or so I designed the knife below.

I called this design "the close fighter"

Basically its a shorter version of a longer fighter style at about
a 4 1/2" blade with a tapered forward swedge clip.

There is a pic of one of my early customs in my past
work extended gallery

The close fighter below was done for a recent custom order
with antiqued hickory, steel pins and rear lanyard hole.

This knife has a beefed up 3/16" spine and will equally handle
hunting and skinning chores with no problem.

On a recent journey into the snow covered woods I took some nice pictures.
One I posted below.  I will post more images from the trip in future posts.

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

What Everybody Ought to Know About Carbon Steel Knives

If you love carbon steel already, or you have followed or own my work
then you just plain love the steel.

To those that are new to my work or the world of carbon steel knives
I decided to re-post some brief info or quick tips on carbon steel.

Especially 1095 high carbon, the steel I use.

Carbon steel fact's or what you should know about it.

Can I use carbon steel cutlery in the kitchen? 

Yes. Carbon steel is sought after for its edge holding capabilities

and ease of re-sharpening.

Not only does it make an excellent knife in the kitchen but this is
a great steel for just about any purpose.

Many a good hunting, survival knife and butcher

blade (just to name a few) has been forged and made from

carbon steel.

For many years carbon steel has been used and has
worked well, and it still remains an outstanding steel.

What kind of oil should I use on my blade or how do I care for it?

Mineral oil.  You can use other oils as well but mineral oil is my number 

one choice.

How do I clean my blades?

Hand washing is what I recommend on any custom knife

I offer.  Never a dish washer. 

Will my high carbon steel blade turn a different color?

Yes.  This is called patina. An array of grays and dark black 

color can build up on your blade and those who know of carbon

steel love this effect.

This also will help protect your blade. A decent post on the subject
of patina.  
Patina, a beautiful thing

A beautiful carbon steel kitchen blade that has served well.
Patina is very nice on this wide blade.

How often do I sharpen my knife? 

Simple, if it starts feeling dull sharpen it.

Many chef's sharpen there knives once a day.
This is a tool and proper edge maintenance

is important.  

I have posted on my blog about sharpening stones, have a book
on the topic and several videos on youtube on sharpening
and knife care.

until next time.

Thank you

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

Large Game Hunting Skinner. More Pictures

This week I am posting an additional picture of a knife
that was posted for sale on available knives gallery 1
that was sold.

When a knife is sold from the site there isn't a way to
see pictures of it any long, so this is a way I can post
pics if you want to see more of the knife.

I also have more pictures I will posting on Flickr.
and below you can see a slide show by clicking the
play button or you can go directly to my flickr
page by clicking the link below.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27144420@N07/



This knife's blade is about 4 1/8" long and has a wide
belly at about 1 1/2".   The top spine/tapered swedge of
the blade is about 2 1/4" long.  File worked spine and some
very nice Tiger maple.  Sheath was hand stitched
and has some very nice carving and tooling on the face.

Thank you very much for following my work,
posts and website.

You all have a great New Year.

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

Stag Hunting and field Knife More pictures

The knife posted below was available on my website
in available knives gallery 2.

Here are some more pictures of the knife.  Also some
details on size and description in case you haven't read them.
Blade was about 3 3/4" with a very nice patina.
Handle being antiqued elk stag with 3 brass pins at about
3 15/16" long.  Spine was about 1/8" and blade width
about 1 7/16"

`Belt Sheath was antiqued and  hand stitched with free hand
tooled scrolls, vines and leaves.

In one of my wood piles I had been admiring the way this log has aged.
thought I would share a picture.

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

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/

Frontier stag Belt knife with frontier rawhide sheath

Recent work from my shop.  This was a custom order
frontier style belt knife.  A perfect size for knife
for many uses.

The patina aged blade is over 4 inches as well as the handle.
The stag was antiqued and has three decent sized copper pins.

The sheath is hand stitched and the entire piece was antiqued.
This style sheath was set up to be tucked behind a belt.
This is a double layered sheath with a hard core veg tan liner
and outer deer skin rawhide.  The beads are all vintage
trade beads.  The copper dangler was also made by hand.

A picture from a recent hike.....

Thank you

Matt

ML Knives

http://www.mlknives.com/