I've got two more patchknives here.

The Antler handled knife I just finished up today, and it is currently aging in a mixture of coal dust, water, and vinegar.

The wood handled knife just got mailed out today to a customer.

Somebody is mighty lucky to get a knife like that

Nice, I especially like that antlered handled one.

Very nice work.

Can you tell us more about this coal dust, water, vinegar mixture?

Sure, Patrick. I create a mud of blacksmiths coal dust, water, and sometimes vinegar and bury the blade in it. Then I wrap the whole thing in wet paper towel to keep it moist, I usually let it sit for about about 24 hrs before it's aged to my liking. A faster, yet potentially more hazardous method is to get a cloth, wrap your blade metal in it and then soak it with bleach. Let it sit for about an hour and you should have a pretty nicely aged finish. Be careful with this method, though. Make sure you do it in a well ventilated area and wear rubber gloves. If you leave it too long you can ruin your steel. Unless you're makin something that looks like its from the ancient Vikings. also, make sure that the cloth you use dosen't have any patterns on it. I once aged a knife using the bleach method, but had it wrapped in flower pattern paper towel. My knife came out with a nicely etched flower pattern all over it. Lol. oh, and you'll wanna clean up the steel from any excessive rust and corrosion. I use steel wool and oil. The oil allows the steel wool clean the blade without actually ever scratching the surface. There are about as many ways to age a blade as there are people doing it. These are the two methods I use. Oh, and they both produce very distinctive looks. The coal dust will give a mottled grey/black colour. The bleach gives more of a rusty brown. Experiment with it, vary your times, your conditions, add stuff, change stuff, mess around with the process til u find what works best.

You do some VERY nice work there Josh! The antler handle really looks nice and it's contour would fit well in the hand for a comfortable hold on tedious work. You are a gifted craftsman!

Well, thanks! I'm glad you like my work.

Good work on both. Im a sucker for the antler handled knives though

Very nice work! Thanks for sharing how you age the metal. I'll tuck that knowledge away for a future project.

Josh,do you have a web site with your repertoire,and prices?I'm a sucker for a nice knife.I just have to see if I can afford it....

Nice knives.

Hey Boartooth... save your nickles, dimes and quarters because Josh's knives are very nice, not terribly expensive, but worth every penny!! I was the customer he sent the top patch knife to. I sent him a drawing and he made it exactly to my specs. I've never before had a patch knife that fits my hand so well, is so well balanced and keeps an edge like the one Josh made for me. I could go on, but suffice to say, I'm a satisfied and very happy customer of his.

Thanks for the advice,Mounty.Yeah,I know handmade knives are pricey,but worth it.Especially considering I'm left-handed,I s'pect it'll be a special piece of work.

I'm left-handed also. Fits me perfectly.