The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Well Dave what can I say? When I that Mestano and the elk on it. I couldn't resist temptation. That's some really nice elk. Looking forward to putting it to use.We were both wrong this time. This Mestano was the first out of the gate:
So after the sheaths had completely dried it was time to rub their edges.
I use a power tool called a Finisher for this job.
I dampen the edge using a foam brush and water and then rub a little paraffin over the edge. Then using the right side of the finisher we rub/burnish those edges. Burnished on the right and raw on the left:
So then some finish is applied. The roughout sheaths in the top row just have finish applied to the edges.
Carved and certain tooling patterns will get highlighter/antique application. This is my own proprietary mixture that I've been using for years. Seems like the commercial ones are too stark, too contrasty, whereas this mixture warms the tooling just right.
The secret is to flood it on and then wipe it off quickly with a paper towel, a small section at a time:
A coat of finish after everything has dried and this batch is done! The top five are special orders and the bottom row are In Stock knives to go on our website.
This one is unique, a one of a kind deal. I call it the Semi Skinner. 26C3 high carbon steel that was clay coated during heat treat for a working hamon. Loveless bolts on the handle along with highly figured Desert Ironwood:
I did three Paisanos in this batch. Two were a special order and the third was In Stock:
Roughout sheaths are always popular, just very durable. Bout as bullet proof as leather will get, so ya see a lot of it in the cowboy world . Saddle, boots all kinds of hard use items.
A Coyote in sheephorn:
My wife and I, when we put a batch of knives on the website, always place a guess as to which knife will be the first to go. She picked this Coyote with its oak carved sheath:
I picked the Paisano above.
We were both wrong this time. This Mestano was the first out of the gate:
Thank you. I use my knives for what ever is need at the time. I don't get to hunt much anymore. So probably won't see much use there.
Thank you Leon
Thank you. I use my knives for what ever is need at the time. I don't get to hunt much anymore. So probably won't see much use there.
I think of that first time as more of shaping the edge from faceted to roundish. The second time, after oiling too btw is slick, glossy and I'm looking for that darker color change
Dang Pard didn't realize it was you that ordered that Mestano. Thanks! Yes that shed was from a storied bull around here. This is one of his sheds, here closest one on the bench:
You bet and thanks!Very cool
Thanks for taking the time to share the process
Great post DaveI think of that first time as more of shaping the edge from faceted to roundish. The second time, after oiling too btw is slick, glossy and I'm looking for that darker color change
Now I think the big secret to long lasting good edges after they are burnished is to put a couple of coats of finish on the edge after burnishing. I'll get a knife in for a new sheath cause the old one is WORE out and the edges are pretty darn good still. I prefer BagKote. Go in both directions when applying. Thank you for the kind words!
Dang Pard didn't realize it was you that ordered that Mestano. Thanks! Yes that shed was from a storied bull around here. This is one of his sheds, here closest one on the bench:
Meanwhile I'm pondering what in the heck does that bolt go to? Never did figure it.
You bet and thanks!
Took a couple of days off from the shop and yesterday drove up to the Greenhorn Mountains outside of Kernville to cut some firewood on a Forest Service permit. Firewood is a lil different for us now without the ranch. When ya have thousands and thousands of oak trees and some pines higher up there is always something that's fallen down that's gonna fill up your truck. Nowadays we got to go find it and its soft wood (cedar and pine) not oak. Now that certainly makes tossing the rounds into the truck easier and lots easier sawing but it'll burn faster too. Well we can go back and will. One of the rare occasions where a Horsewright knife might not be up to the job:
He had help:
Been an Echo guy for a while but I'm thinking of getting a lil larger Stihl too. Got er ready to go:
Looking down on Lake Isabella:
See that plateau across the way? We can go up to cut too. That's where I wanna head to soon. Something about our fly rods in the back seat and there are some legendary lil streams and cricks up yonder. That's called the Kern Plateau. Well got er done:
So I got a text simply said "What Kind of Beer?" In Cowboyese that generally means Coors Light or Coors Original? I texted back "yellow". This showed up:
Couple rancher friends showed up with it. One was picking up a Case single bladed trapper. I'd thinned the blade and fixed the edge for him and he was very happy. Lots of ranchers here in Cal ear mark too. That is they cut out a pattern in the ear. This can be seen at a much greater distance than a brand and is done at the branding when the calf is young. His ranch does a 7 in the ear and Case had hollow ground the majority of the blade and then the last third towards the point was convex ground and not very well. He'd pierce it in and start to slice and where the blade transitioned between grinds it'd stopped cutting. So I'd fixed it for him. Well he dropped off a handful of other knives to sharpen. Its true. I will work for beer!
I can't tell ya how many cowboy trappers I've seen missing the shield. Like all of em. I knocked the blood off of this one and left the patina on the others.
Cleaned up the dammy on this one and filled that crack with superglue and repolished the bone. Don't know who made this one but there's a bad weld in the blade too. Gonna have a limited life, as life is gonna get down in there and rust er out. Ya can see it here:
Mission accomplished:
Went for an evening ride and stopped at the shop on the way back for one of them yellow cans. Sputnik was waiting patiently for me while I got the beer. Well he's hobbled, see the strap around his legs. A well trained ranch horse is almost always hobble broke, to stand still while the hobbles are on, despite his obvious interest in getting back to the barn and having dinner.
We made the reins and the headstall there on his outfit.
Good to know the back story on the elk. Can't wait to show it to my brother. He's a lover of elk also. When I showed my brother the elk handled Cowboy I thought I was going to have to pry it outta his hand to get it back. 
Thanks. I've actually heard that story before. Loaned it to my brother and he won't give it back so I need another. Heard it from father to son too! Kinda a funny deal. Calif banned all small engines under 25hp. Got to switch to electric. Took effect on Jan 1. However, stores could sell out existing stock after that date. Wise merchants put in large orders and well the Stihl is available locally and at the only place locally that will still service such. So probably heading over this morning. Plus need a new splitting axe.Great post Dave
Ive used Stihl chainsaws the most cutting fire wood. Mostly cut hedge aka Osage Orange. Hard as can be and burns hot and long. Have be careful with it as it can sparky.
Those are beautiful knives and sheaths DaveThanks. I've actually heard that story before. Loaned it to my brother and he won't give it back so I need another. Heard it from father to son too! Kinda a funny deal. Calif banned all small engines under 25hp. Got to switch to electric. Took effect on Jan 1. However, stores could sell out existing stock after that date. Wise merchants put in large orders and well the Stihl is available locally and at the only place locally that will still service such. So probably heading over this morning. Plus need a new splitting axe.
Here's what the guy that provided that shed ordered from it:
A pair of pairs. Two Paisanos and two Sonoran Belt Knives:
I use Osage Orange now and then. A BF member in KS cut me a pretty good box of it years back.
Thank you much buddy!If you ever make it to Australia drop me a line and we can take care of that hunting drought
Yes the old barter system, been around for thousands of years, became very popular hundreds of years ago when Governments imposed heavy taxes on their populations particularly the farmers and the working poor. The earliest form of Tax avoidance, humans have a great skill at circumnavigating things imposed on them. Have a good weekend.
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The idea behind credit unions, meeting the needs of the local community or people where the traditional banks would not, got its start in Germany.Yes the old barter system, been around for thousands of years, became very popular hundreds of years ago when Governments imposed heavy taxes on their populations particularly the farmers and the working poor. The earliest form of Tax avoidance, humans have a great skill at circumnavigating things imposed on them. Have a good weekend.
Thanks you too!Yes the old barter system, been around for thousands of years, became very popular hundreds of years ago when Governments imposed heavy taxes on their populations particularly the farmers and the working poor. The earliest form of Tax avoidance, humans have a great skill at circumnavigating things imposed on them. Have a good weekend.
Yep!Reckon so
Yes the old barter system, been around for thousands of years, became very popular hundreds of years ago when Governments imposed heavy taxes on their populations particularly the farmers and the working poor. The earliest form of Tax avoidance, humans have a great skill at circumnavigating things imposed on them. Have a good weekend.
Reckon so
