Showing posts with label patina carbon steel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label patina carbon steel. Show all posts

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Straight back Knife with High grain burl handle

Posting this week is a custom straight back design with a
blade about 5" long both pattern and patina aged.

The handle is a one of a kind piece of high grain stabilized
red wood burl and the spine has been hand file worked.

The sheath has been hand stitched, hand tooled and carved
with a one of a kind design.



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

Sunday, May 18, 2014

A custom drop point knife with tooled Deer Sheath

A recent custom knife posted bleow with a
blade a bit over 4 inches long, with both
pattern and patina aged finish.

The spine was hand file worked and the handle
is aged tiger maple.

The leather sheath was antiqued and hand stiched.
All the tooling and carving of the deer scene
was done free hand as well.


The Newest Video.



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

Sunday, April 6, 2014

The Frontier style belt knife and tooled leather

This knife was a custom order based off of one of the
knives that was listed on Available Knives Gallery 1 of my
website.

The design was based off of an original vintage belt knife
but this version has a beefed up 3/16" spine.

The handle is tiger maple with brass pins and the blade
is over 5 inches long with a pattern and patina aged finish.

The spine of this knife has also been file worked.

The sheath was hand stitched and antiqued.

























If you missed seeing the last new tooled and carved
leather piece I had available I am posting one of the pics below.
















I am thinking on making a video to give you all an idea of how
my tooling and leather creating is done.
A design like the one above started with a drawing on
paper.
Available leather Pieces

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

Sunday, November 3, 2013

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

Sunday, April 7, 2013

The Large Knife and Some thoughts On Carry

For some A large knife is something you wouldn't carry in
the woods, only something you would use maybe in your kitchen.

Well...I am going to give some of my thoughts and opinions
on larger knives.

Large knives have been carried for many years, and once you
get used to carrying one or become proficient with one you
may want to consider having, packing or carrying at least
one larger knife that has a bit of heft to it.

If your worried about carrying a large knife because of weight
or just don't want something with say an 8 inch blade or
so weighing you down, there is more than one way to carry
a big blade with almost any kind of sheath.

A simple way is to tuck the knife in its sheath at a semi cant
in the back or front of your belt.  Better yet if you have a high
ride sheath you can angle the knife and cross draw it as well.

Another simple way is to carry a large knife in your pack,
or attached to your pack if you carry one.
For years I have lashed my larger Hudson bay camp knife
to one of my side bags and carried it without an issue.
Still do carry it this way at times.

Camp tools such as a large knife can be handy as well for
helping with making kindling, making stakes for a shelter,
de-limbing larger branches with ease, you can also thump
the blade of you large knife in a stump and use it to debark
a branch or larger sized branches or to make some smaller
sized tinder for fire.

Batoning can be easier with a big knife, if needed and yes
a big knife is great in the kitchen, no doubt about that.

One other thought, a large blade can also be your
best friend when you might come across a last resort
situation.  It will never run out of ammo and if your
large knife has some heft to it can be used more than
one way than blade end.

The Knife below was a recent custom with an antiqued
elk stag handle, 9 inch pattern and patina aged blade.
Pins are brass over brass washers and this has been
set up with an aged hand stitched high ride sheath.













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

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Custom Spear Point Knife

Recent custom knife work, of a beautiful spear point.

This knife was special ordered with a beefed up 3/16" spine
stag and (white liners).

The blade is pattern and patina aged and is about 5 inches
long with some nice file work.

Sheath was hand stitched.













I have a good collection of photos I have taken on hikes and woods
journeys here is another one.























Also If you would like to know or get a heads up when new knives are available
for sale in one of the available knife galleries It will not only be posted on the website
but will post it on twitter.   Will also post info and sneak peaks of in works photos
available leather pieces and more as I can.  The picture below will bring you to
the page.









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

Sunday, March 17, 2013

The Natural Sheath and aged Nessmuk

A recent custom order Nessmuk posted below.

This is one of my custom Nessmuks with a 3 pin antiqued stag handle
with pattern and patina aged blade.

Also requested was a natural colored (pancake style) sheath.
The only thing put on the sheath was a nice light coating of
my oil and beeswax mixture.  This sheath will age and patina
with naturally.

This knife if also posted on the NEW Updated PAST WORK 
EXTENDED Page.  You can see the new page by clicking
the link above and I will also post the link below.






















Another Photo from a collection of pictures taken on back woods journeys.

























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

PAST WORK EXTENDED

Saturday, January 5, 2013

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


Sunday, November 4, 2012

Vintage looking trail knife with aged Bone Handle..Leather work

First I want to Send my thoughts and prayers to all that were effected
by Hurricane Sandy.  I also want to thank all of you who sent me
emails and called with concerns and best wishes for me and my family
it is greatly appreciated.  We are all fine. The worse we had here upstate
in my area was high winds that knocked over a couple face cord
of wood.  Other than that we are fine.  Thank you again.

This week I wanted to post this beautiful custom order knife.
A design like this can handle many tasks and has a vintage
look and feel to it.

The blade is about 5 inches long with pattern and patina aging.
The handle is aged bone with plenty of character and has 3
larger sized brass pine.  The spine was beefed up at 3/16"
thick and has been hand file worked.

Sheath was antiqued and hand stitched and the custom ferro rod
was made from a piece of elk antler that was also aged.





















If you have been following my work for some time you know I also hand stitch all of
my sheath's and all the tooling and line work is done by hand as well.

I will soon be adding a new page to the site with other leather items I make
as well.  I will post the info here when that is added.












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

Sunday, October 21, 2012

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

Sunday, October 14, 2012

A Custom Frontier Belt knife with leather and rawhide

This frontier style knife was custom a custom.

The spear point style blade is about 6 inches long that has
been patina aged.

The handle is aged elk bone that has been hafted in elk
leather toward the forward portion of the handle and also
has tight stitched portion of leather.

The sheath has a hard core leather liner and has been wrapped
and cross stitched with aged rawhide and brain tan leather.
the brain tan lace has vintage trade beads and a antiqued tin cone
with horse hair.  This style sheath is made to be worn placed 
behind  or simply tucked behind your pants.































Also thought you would like to see a photo of some of the colors here  in
upstate NY.

























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

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Kephart custom and fisher knife set.

A mid week update.

This is a custom order set of knives.

A custom kephart and kephart fisher.
both knives were handled with antiqued black walnut.

The kephart standard size has a pattern and patina
aged blade with extra deep grooved file worked
thumb stops on the spine.  Sheath being hand
stitched and set up to wear on the belt with
a ferro rod loop.

The kephart fisher has a  pattern aged blade
and this was set up to wear as a neck knife.
This sheath also has a high ride belt carry loop
on the backside.




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

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Customized Trail Fighter Knife

Posted below is one of my custom order Trail Fighters, recently
completed.

This Trail Fighter knife was ordered with my standard black
dymonwood brass pins and lanyard, pattern and patina aged blade
and the Trail fighter sheath.

The one special request was an untapered swedge/clip.




Thank you

Matt
ML Knives

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Frontier Carved antler Neck Knife and my traveling hobo stove

This is a knife I made awhile back with an aged crown antler handle.
You can see The backside of the rosette I hand carved a primitive
face.  The sheath was antiqued leather set up to be worn as a neck knife
and the face of the sheath had hand stipple work.

The blade being patina aged and 2 decent sized copper pins in the handle.



On a trip to the woods I made a quick brew for my wife in my
traveling coffee can stove.  I used my leather handled carry
knife to make fire sticks and get things going. 




Thank you
Matt
ML Knives

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

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

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Vintage style Antler Neck knife from Past work

This is a custom knife I made going back to 2004 I thought
would be a nice one to share.

This was done with traditional vintage styling, with a forged blade
about 3 1/2" long and a light forge pattern, light patina
finish.

The handle is aged crown Whitetail deer antler that the tang
was drifted back into.  The handle has 2 steel pins.

The sheath was done with aged leather and hand cross
stitching around the outside.



















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

Sunday, May 6, 2012

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/

Sunday, April 22, 2012

A Custom Nessmuk Knife

The Nessmuk below was completed recenelty for a custom order
and thought I would share some pictures.

Blade is high aged  and has a very nice patina, and the handle is
Black ebony with 2 large steel pins.  The spine has also been
beefed up to 3/16" thickness.

The sheath is hand stitched and was done to a very rich dark
brown color. 














I also posted a new video, one of my personal knives.



If you would like to subscribe to my youtube
channel  I posted the link below.
Subscribe to me on YouTube

Thank you

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

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Country Butcher knife..Past Work

Here is a knife from past work.

This was a wide bladed knife at about 2" wide with a patina
aged finish, handle being antiqued hard ash wood with steel pins.
Blade being about 8 inches long.

The knife was fashioned after some of the butcher style
knives that worked and served well for many years in this country
and had a solid tang that drifted back into the handle about more than
half way.


















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

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

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