Eskabar - Work in Progress

[FCFER]

So my paracord wrap finally had to go. Between catfish guts and motor oil from a recent alternator swap, I finally couldnt stand the funkyness any longer.
I figured it would be a good time to strip the blade and add some jimping.

After an hour or so in a Citristrip soak, I didnt even have to scrape the blade! The coating just rubbed off using the chemical resistant gloves. Easy as pie!

I used my dremel to mark the spine and started in with a triangle jewelers file for the jimping. Its taking some time, but its coming along.
I also rounded the back of the blade a bit as I go. For giggles, I went ahead and forced a patina on it. I'm a fan of tiger stripes so am finding the pattern as i go.

Here's a pic after last nights work. I'm still cleaning up the jimping and should end up with a nice sharp wedge shaped bevels once finished.

As $$$ allows, i'd love to get some scales for the handle, but will most likely put another paracord wrap on it. Was planning on pulling the trigger on some scales, but the alternator swap was unexpected, and them things arent cheap!

After refining some of the Jimping and a little more polish on the blade. Maybe an hours worth of work with jewelers files and dremel sanding/buffing tool.

 

[Flexxx]

Lookin very good bro...

 

[clich]

Looks good man. I like it. I may be stripping mine esky soon

 

[jarodmichael]

I'm actually leaving my esky black to match my tiger striped scale that are on the way!!

 

[FCFER]

Thanks for the kind words!

Jarod, post pics when you get those in! Sounds awesome!

 

[BRL]

Lookin sweet. Sacrificing some paracord now and again to the catfish guts gods is a good thing.

 

[gundude73]

looks really good!

 

[jarodmichael]

Thanks for the kind words!

Jarod, post pics when you get those in! Sounds awesome!

Oh I definitely will! Should only be about another week or so!!

 

[clich]

hey man,

congrats on your #

as welcome gesture from myself on behalf of all of us, id like to offer you some scales for your esky, 100% catfish gut free.

100% free of charge. they are green canvas micarta, originally for the izula, but i shaved down the liners for a nice snug fit on the esky (the insides aint pretty but they snap right in). you want em, theyre yours, all i ask for is pics pics pics. shoot me an email with your address my man. congrats and welcome to the ruckus

 

[Murphnuge]

Good deal, you'd better take it! Btw, I like the patina!

 

[Snakedoc]

Cool deal Clich!!

 

[Klutz]

What did you use for the patina? I've used wasabi mustard and vinegar before on a mora knife.

 

[Haze240]

Clich you awesome motherf*****. That's a great gesture, you make beckerheads proud man.

Jarod, I think I'm as excited as you about those scales, if they work for you, I'll definatley be picking up a set... Hope you don't mind if we end up with matching Eskabars lol.

 

[jarodmichael]

Clich you awesome motherf*****. That's a great gesture, you make beckerheads proud man.

Jarod, I think I'm as excited as you about those scales, if they work for you, I'll definatley be picking up a set... Hope you don't mind if we end up with matching Eskabars lol.

Why, I'd be honored!

 

[fatheadhill]

That's what I'm looking to do to my 9, and Esky tomorrow(strip and patina). I like the looks of the patina you've got going there. Any tips? What'd you use?

 

[clich]

Clich you awesome motherf*****. That's a great gesture, you make beckerheads proud man.

Jarod, I think I'm as excited as you about those scales, if they work for you, I'll definatley be picking up a set... Hope you don't mind if we end up with matching Eskabars lol.

Its no big. When I first got here and started asking around about stuff the guys were generous and hooked me up, just paying it forward is all.

 

[jarodmichael]

Its no big. When I first got here and started asking around about stuff the guys were generous and hooked me up, just paying it forward is all.

It's how we do!

 

[FCFER]

Holy Cow man! I'm a member of several online forums and have never witnessed generosity like this!
Clich, I humbely accept, and look forward to paying it forward as my collection grows!
This is gonna be great!

 

[FCFER]

I've used an old Chinese secret recipe for forcing patina on blades. It’s called "French's Yellow Mustard".
Ha Ha!! That’s it. No mixture of any kind. Just straight yellow mustard. For a pattern I just apply with my fingers.
Any place the mustard is the thinnest, the darker the patina will appear. I think it has to do with the way the vinegar and oxygen react with the steel, but I’m no chemist. Just my observation.
After applying the mustard evenly over the blade, I drag my fingers across the face of the blade creating thinner streaks, These streaks will be the dark parts of the patina. Just let it sit in the open air for 20 minutes or so then rinse. The great thing about it, if you don’t like it, just take a brillo pad to it and buff out the patina and begin again. Once I get the finish I like, I’ll wipe it down and apply a thin film of gun oil over the blade to keep from rusting, and it also seems to bring a little more character out of the patina. I’ll post some pics of the process when I get ready to patina this Eskabar again.

 

[clich]

Holy Cow man! I'm a member of several online forums and have never witnessed generosity like this!
Clich, I humbely accept, and look forward to paying it forward as my collection grows!
This is gonna be great!

No prob man, I can rub some catfish guts and motor oil on em so they feel like home if ya want