What "Traditional Knife" are ya totin' today?

Dear Dr. Ruth,

I'm in a bit of a pickle lately and it has to do with my Natural Linen Micarta #21 Bull Buster. See, I love a patina, and that knife is a double whammy - the micarta patinas and so does the blade. The micarta is taking on a deep, rich reddish-brown hue and the blade is getting dark and matte, especially near the spine. The problem is that every time I cut something with it, it just ends up looking better - which means that most all my other knives have been on the back burner.

Which leads to my problem: How am I ever gonna get these two recent arrivals properly worn? I won't cheat and force a patina or send them to someone else to use for me, but that #21 keeps hogging all my pocket time! Even my 2022 Remington Granddaddy Barlow is upset! Please help!

"Patina-less in Knifeville"

FY8tPqI.jpeg
 
5K Qs said:
Welcome back, Mike; glad you got your roof situation taken care of. Do you think the laundry room leaks could have been from ice dams at the edge of the roof forcing liquid back under the shingles?
How do you like your NEBO penlight? We have a larger version that's the best back yard flashlight I've ever had for taking the dog out to do his business in the dark. And it has an easy USB charger I just plug into my laptop (and I've had to recharge it far fewer times than I'd expected).
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- GT
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Thanks Gary :)
Water was draining backwards, but it had to do with an edge treatment that failed after many years. If I had been paying better attention, it wouldn't have gotten so bad. I have it fixed temporarily. I have to do a more permanent fix when I go back.
Nebo does not get a lot of love from flashlight enthusiasts, but I like it a lot. It has become my go to pen light.
birdsbeaks said:
Dear Dr. Ruth,

I'm in a bit of a pickle lately and it has to do with my Natural Linen Micarta #21 Bull Buster. See, I love a patina, and that knife is a double whammy - the micarta patinas and so does the blade. The micarta is taking on a deep, rich reddish-brown hue and the blade is getting dark and matte, especially near the spine. The problem is that every time I cut something with it, it just ends up looking better - which means that most all my other knives have been on the back burner.

Which leads to my problem: How am I ever gonna get these two recent arrivals properly worn? I won't cheat and force a patina or send them to someone else to use for me, but that #21 keeps hogging all my pocket time! Even my 2022 Remington Granddaddy Barlow is upset! Please help!

"Patina-less in Knifeville"

FY8tPqI.jpeg
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Dr. Ruth was more about sexuality so I think you query would be more appropriate for Abby. Its quite the conundrum 🤔
 
birdsbeaks said:
I won't cheat and force a patina
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then there's only one way. 🤣
It ain't cheating to force a patina. I would say that about 95-98 percent of knives that have dark patina are forced ....... by different means.
I choose to spend ten minutes and less than a dollar to force mine ... the way I want it to look ... or........... I could carry it everyday and cut up 500 dollars worth of food to get what I want.
If you're cutting food because you want a patina, then you forced it. 😊
Patina's are fickle anyway ! Just when you get them where you want them............... they change. ;)🤣
 
5K Qs said:
Great dye job on your elk antler, Greg! :thumbsup::cool::thumbsup:
- GT
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Thanks, Gary. I like playing with the dyes. :thumbsup:
Amir Fleschwund said:
Virginal Safe Queens…View attachment 2503018As I mentioned the other day, we’re enjoying 3 days of having our Granddaughters here from Georgia while their Mom attends work meetings in Milwaukee and Chicago.
The oldest leaves for Spain on her senior trip this week, so she’s not here. And being a high school senior, she’s busy with choosing college. Since my son was a combat casualty, there are some nice programs available to help make good education affordable for his girls.

But the 16 and 12 year olds are here, as well as the baby ~ a four month old delight. Although Vik flew out when she was born, this is my first chance to meet her. I did almost nothing yesterday other than carry her around, change a few diapers, and feed her with bottles ~ bonding🥰
Only the two older ones are related by blood, being my late son’s girls, but all four are 100% our Granddaughters.
If you’ve been there, you know.

Have a great day!
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That's awesome Jeff. :) Enjoy your time with them.

Case big stockman and a Solingen stag for me today.
Case 75 & Soligen stag - 1.jpeg
 
Primble said:
then there's only one way. 🤣
It ain't cheating to force a patina. I would say that about 95-98 percent of knives that have dark patina are forced ....... by different means.
I choose to spend ten minutes and less than a dollar to force mine ... the way I want it to look ... or........... I could carry it everyday and cut up 500 dollars worth of food to get what I want.
If you're cutting food because you want a patina, then you forced it. 😊
Patina's are fickle anyway ! Just when you get them where you want them............... they change. ;)🤣
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You do have a point there.

I guess I'd just rather remember chopping up a bunch of potatoes and onions than remember dipping it in a glass of vinegar? 🤣

I wouldn't claim to have never done it, though. Back in my wilder days (2022 🤣), I decided this Red Onion Micarta Coon Skinner needed a red onion-induced patina - but, you're right there too - it looks completely different now! #23 is au naturel.

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