Hard using bush knife with a straight back spine

Just completed for a customer is this straight back style knife
with a beefed up 3/16" spine.

This knife was part of a set, larger and smaller knife
but at the time of this post I only have access to the larger
knife pic.

Knife info:

The blade is about 5 inches long with a patina aged finish.
Handle is aged black walnut with brass pins and lanyard hole.

Sheath was hand stitched and antiqued and has a loop for a
ferro rod.

Thank you for reading.

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

The Short Survivalist with Rawhide

This week I am posting one of my customized
short survivalist knives.

This is my short survivalist with tiger maple
and pattern aged blade with a custom
tight stitched forward haft of rawhide.

The sheath was hand cut, worked and hand stitched
set up to wear horizontally on the belt.
Antiqued in a darker brown.

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

A Set of Belt Knives

This set was recently completed for a custom order.

All three knives have a blade designs that are early in style
and will handle a good deal of work in the back country.

The blades on these are about 8 inches long with pattern
and patina aging.

The handles are beautiful tiger maple with larger sized
brass pins.

All three knives were also made with beefed up 3/16 " spines.

All three sheath were hand stitched and made to wear high
to be cross drawn.  The sheath's also have custom tooling
on the face.

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

Woods and Bush knife with Beautiful Ironwood

Recently I completed this custom woods and bush knife for
a custom order.

This Woods and bush has some very nice ironwood with
a beautiful burl grain.  Also requested was a thinner 3/32"
spine and a pattern and Patina aged blade.

The sheath is one of my hand stitched custom dangler sheaths.

Also Part 2 of the Country Bag video.  This bag is almost completed and I will have a final video
posted when It's all set.

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

Trail Fighter #24

Recent completed work from my shop is this custom made
Trail Fighter #24.

This trail Fighter has been handled in Black canvas micarta
instead of my standard black dymonwood.

If you are unfamiliar with the Trail Fighter the blade ranges in at about
6 1/4" and comes with pattern and patina aging.

If you would like more info you can go to this
page on my website.
Special Order Page 3

I am also in the process of trying to get video done on one of my country bags so
you can see some of the process.  I will have more info posted when things are set
with that.

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

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

Woods and bush knife custom

Here is some recent custom order work from my shop.  This is
one of my woods and bush knives with an antiqued Hickory
handle.  Steel pins and lanyard.
About sizes on my woods and bush knife are overall
9 1/2" with a blade about 4 9/16" long.
Leather through lanyard hole is hand braided.

Recent pic from a woods journey.

Thank you

Matt

ML Knives

http://www.mlknives.com/

Short Survivalist knife Customized and Military Insignia on Leather

About five or so posts ago I showed you look at
a mosaic pinned "customized" short survivalist.  I
have some more and info pictures here to show you.

This is a bit shorter than my standard short survivalist
overall I believe this is about 5 3/4"..you can also see
in the pictures the antiqued bone with Mosaic pins.

The Hand stitched sheath can be carried on the belt
or as a neck knife.

If you would like to see my survivalist knives and just
are passing through here is the link.
Special Order Page 3

I also have a New Video post.

Thank you very much

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