All About Pocket Knives

I had a couple Schrade Barlows in my shop that needed combining to make one good knife. The blades had quite a bit of light pitting on them, but deeper than I could polish out. I used a new treatment on the blades that I learned from Wayne Goddard at the OKCA show in April. I think he called it "Goddard's Mustard Plaster," it is also described in his book, "The World of Knifemaking."
The mustard treatment, if done properly forms a hard oxide layer on carbon steel that protects the blades from normal finger printing and from pitting due to spittle. I had to go lightly with the mustard where I etched the blade. I put rope filework on the pitted backsprings. Instead of grinding it off smooth before filing, I left it as part of the filework trying to achieve an aged look to the knife. The handles are Impala jigged caramel colored bone from Culpeppers. I do have a problem in this picture that has since been corrected. The deep jigging of this pattern along with the placement of the pivot pin left a sharp edge around the pin and a funky head on the pin. It has problem been rectified but I have not gotten a new picture. I will try and add it tomorrow. With the worn look of the design on the bolsters and some light pitting on the back springs and blades, there was no way to hide the age & wear on the knife, so I incorporated it into the look of the knife.

I will leave it up to you to decide whether I succeeded in getting the old worn knife look I was going for. You be the judge.

Those may be the coolest scales I've ever seen!

Awesome work on the metal too Dale!!

You certainly breathed life into that clunker. I like those scales, but I'm used to seeing jigging running linearly with the knife. That sets things off nicely, and immediately draws you into it. I love what you did with the mustard etch.

To me, it looks like new and old in the same knife, but I think it all goes well together regardless. You have been stepping things up recently. I'm really liking what's coming out of your shop, and am very pleased to see you back in there putting out this amazing work!

Thanks guys, I appreciate your feedback, it all helps me see what works and what doesn't.

glennbad wrote: You have been stepping things up recently. I'm really liking what's coming out of your shop, and am very pleased to see you back in there putting out this amazing work!

Glenn, thank you my friend, that means a lot from you.
The new knee is a huge help in the shop. Now if my hands will just hold out....................

The interesting thing about that jigging is that it really allows for a good grip.
I may have give this one a trial run in my own pocket.

Those are the best looking "New" knife handles I have ever seen

Did you create that effect or buy them that way?

The whole knife turned out great

Those handles are amazing! I think it´s a good idea - if you can´t get rid of the bug make it a feature!

Nice work Orvet I really like the mustard patina and the scales

Fantastic Re-Hab of that knife. Anyone would be proud to own it. Sweet