Beauty of Old, Worn Knives

[Slice-and-dice]

There’s something special about an old knife; its blade slightly dulled or darkened (carbon) by time, its handle worn smooth by years of use. While it may lack the sharp precision of a brand-new exotic steel tool, it holds a comfort that no fresh edge can offer. These are the knives that fit perfectly in your hand, their weight and balance as familiar as a well-worn pair of shoes or boots. In a world obsessed with the latest and the sharpest, let’s take a moment to appreciate the quiet reliability of the old blades we keep reaching for.

With this in mind, a question: Given that many of us rotate our blades regularly (because we have so many), it's harder to "wear in" a newer knife. Do you age your new knives a bit to give them the special worn in feel? If so, how so? Do you ever sand down the scales a bit on bone or wood scaled knives, or do other activities to give your blades the familiar comfort you enjoy? There's obviously an appeal as numerous makers sell "pocket worn" knives.

 

[afishhunter]

On my carbon knives I might use a bit of "natural strength" lemon juice to start a patina, after removing the factory oyle from the blades.

I don't normally really have much access to things I used to use for a patina, such as raw meat, clucker, fish, and onion.

I have not been able to hunt since c.1996, or fish since c.2007, so no patina from field dressing, peeling and butchering game and/or turtle, or cleaning and possibly filleting fish.
I retired to Idaho primarily for the hunting opportunities. More big game options than only just the whitetail deer found back in the "mid west" where I originally started from. (technically from the Appalachian Mountains to the Mississippi River it is the "Mid East", but that name/designation was already taken. )
Retirement camping, fishing, and hunting plans were lost when I had a stroke, and have been ordered by my doctors to use a rollator (4 wheel walker) to walk around ever since. (daRn it.) Tho I will admit I can carry more tools, a good first aid kit, and other items with me when out and about that before ... plus I automatically have a seat when I have to stop and wait for knees, hip, and lower back to stop screaming.

I never sanded or scrubbed the covers unless they were really shiny, and even then just enough to knock the shine off.

My stainless knives ... still researching how to get rid of the pretty much industry standard "mirror" polish.
I have a good metal signaling mirror in my backpack, so I don't need my knife (or knives) to double as one.

 

[waynorth]

I don't purposely put wear on a knife, except for one; but I might start the patina with cider vinegar!!
I actually prefer a knife that is a bit worn, with a few miles on it!! Old Stag Jacks with nice handles are particularly nice to have in your pocket!!

Nice Jack from Empire - probably before or after WW1!!





Old Schrade Cut Co from the same period!!

 

[black mamba]

This Robeson is between 85 and 100 years old; a gift from a fellow forumite. I enjoy carrying this one.

 

[Hickory n steel]

With a new knife especially carbon steel I will carry it for about a month eating an apple a day cutting potatoes and using it to cut chicken & steak...etc to build up a good patina.
Beyond that I just carry my knives for a week at a time and try to get as much use out of them as I can.
They're always carried in my pocket organizer though so they don't really end up with much pocket wear, I'm not adverse to it but that's just the nature of my preferred carry method.

I get plenty of natural patina and some wear to the blades from non abusive use, just not pocket wear.

I've had this Case 62032 almost 7 years at this point.
Here it is after a day or two

Aside from the secondary blade being modified, this is natural wear nearly 7 years later with probably a years worth of total pocket time.

The dye has lightened up some while the bone itself has also yellowed, but there isn't much wear or edge softening or anything like that.

 

[Slice-and-dice]

On my carbon knives I might use a bit of "natural strength" lemon juice to start a patina, after removing the factory oyle from the blades.

I don't normally really have much access to things I used to use for a patina, such as raw meat, clucker, fish, and onion.

I have not been able to hunt since c.1996, or fish since c.2007, so no patina from field dressing, peeling and butchering game and/or turtle, or cleaning and possibly filleting fish.
I retired to Idaho primarily for the hunting opportunities. More big game options than only just the whitetail deer found back in the "mid west" where I originally started from. (technically from the Appalachian Mountains to the Mississippi River it is the "Mid East", but that name/designation was already taken. )
Retirement camping, fishing, and hunting plans were lost when I had a stroke, and have been ordered by my doctors to use a rollator (4 wheel walker) to walk around ever since. (daRn it.) Tho I will admit I can carry more tools, a good first aid kit, and other items with me when out and about that before ... plus I automatically have a seat when I have to stop and wait for knees, hip, and lower back to stop screaming.

I never sanded or scrubbed the covers unless they were really shiny, and even then just enough to knock the shine off.

My stainless knives ... still researching how to get rid of the pretty much industry standard "mirror" polish.
I have a good metal signaling mirror in my backpack, so I don't need my knife (or knives) to double as one.

Sorry about your reduced movement, but we are enjoying your keyboard activity in commenting on this forum. Thanks and my best to you!

 

[Slice-and-dice]

This Robeson is between 85 and 100 years old; a gift from a fellow forumite. I enjoy carrying this one.

Smooth to the touch and no hot spots on that one - nice!

 

[Slice-and-dice]

I don't purposely put wear on a knife, except for one; but I might start the patina with cider vinegar!!
I actually prefer a knife that is a bit worn, with a few miles on it!! Old Stag Jacks with nice handles are particularly nice to have in your pocket!!View attachment 2957213View attachment 2957216

Nice Jack from Empire - probably before or after WW1!!


View attachment 2957217


Old Schrade Cut Co from the same period!!

LOL "except for one"? Hmmmmm.......

 

[mauser9]

Enjoyed the pics gentlemen. Knives were meant for using back in the 30s and 40s I am sure. not many "queens" set aside just to look at.

 

[waynorth]

LOL "except for one"? Hmmmmm.......

Old Boiley!! My first TC Barlow!! Here it is fresh out of the box!!! (the scratches are on my scanner!!)
Here it is after extensive testing, including a complete hot vinegar bath, some fine sanding to take the "hair" off the bone after soaking, and years of use!!
And Scrimming my initials into the handle!!

 

[Slice-and-dice]

Old Boiley!! My first TC Barlow!! Here it is fresh out of the box!!! (the scratches are on my scanner!!)View attachment 2957330View attachment 2957333
Here it is after extensive testing, including a complete hot vinegar bath, some fine sanding to take the "hair" off the bone after soaking, and years of use!!
And Scrimming my initials into the handle!!
View attachment 2957322View attachment 2957323

Awesome, love the Navajo style turquoise ring, spot on!

 

[Johnnythefox]

Stick it in the washing machine for 8 weeks and replicate 80 years of (mis) use.

Well it worked for me.









mis)

 

[afishhunter]

Stick it in the washing machine for 8 weeks and replicate 80 years of (mis) use.

Well it worked for me.









mis)

Please forgive my asking.
Is the steel fingernail tool necessary to open it?

 

[Johnnythefox]

Please forgive my asking.
Is the steel fingernail tool necessary to open it?

I was expecting it to be stuck but it wasn’t.

 

[SwissHeritageCo]

Not sure of this counts as "old and worn out" but they're 10+ years old at this point,

 

[waynorth]

Awesome, love the Navajo style turquoise ring, spot on!

One of my favorite rings!! I love it almost as much as the knife!!!

 

[Old Engineer]

I normally do nothing to a new knife to add patina . I just try to keep them clean after use . I bought this Ulster in 1962 and retired it in 2003 or so after carrying it every day . The patina shown is just natural .

If I get a Stag handled knife that is very dark and does not show the Texture well , I will take a soft cloth and or brush and try to hand buff the high spots . This knife will be getting the treatment soon .

When I got tis old Stag Pruner , the Stag had been dried out a dull grey and I coated it with Mineral Oil and a few days later hand buffed it with a soft cloth in order to show the Texture .
There was very little Patina on the blade when I got it in 2019 and it has just developed from using it and cleaning it .
The Lambfoot had no Patina on the blade when I got it but it has just developed from using it after 2017 .

If I buy a old knife I will clean it off well enough to read the tang stamp and leave what ever patina is on it .
I have never mechanically buffed a knife . I did buy a knife once that that had been though . I was an Easy Open with no nail nick with a very strong pull and too slick for me to grip and open .

Harry

 

[Murphy Slaw]

This old LB-7 was the only knife I owned for many years. It did everything necessary.

 

[Buck_Fan]

 

[DaveHS]

My grandfather’s old Schrade. He sharpened his knives on a belt grinder in his shop.