Rifleman's Knife

[Capt. Fred]

After I posted that "liberty" knife a week or so ago I got to thinking. I wonder if some poor soul freeezing his butt off at Valley Forge got to carving on his knife what might he carve. So I made this knife and antiqued it to look like it had some hard miles on it.

It is an 8 inch blade with about a 5 inch long curly maple handle. The steel blade was aged using bleach and naval jelly several times each. The stain on the handle is LMF maple and walnut and the brass was aged by rubbing it down with a mixture of water, blackpowder, easy off, and salt.

I haven't made the sheath yet as I am out of leather.

The actual colors are closer to the colors where the knife is on the board.

I bought two blades and the next one I'm going to inlay the handle with the silver wire and then antique it.

 

[rich pierce]

Nice work. Looks like a fine handling knife; good size.

 

[Lostrifle]

I like it! :hatsoff: :thumbsup:
Will the sheath be plain or fancied up?

 

[Capt. Fred]

The sheath will be 5OZ leather and I plan on trying to antique it too. Also, I've got a neighbor that is having a real bad time with water moccasins coming into his yard and I've asked him to save me the next one he shoots. I'm going to try and do something with it's skin on the sheath. Not sure what, but probably some sort of decorative ring at the top of the sheath.

 

[Lostrifle]

Sounds interesting. :thumbsup:
Pics, please?

 

[Capt. Fred]

Yup. I'll post some pics when she's done.

 

[Capt. Fred]

Well you just can't count on snakes anymore. None were willing to offer up their hides for a decoration to this sheath so I went ahead and just used the leather I had.

I also did some more aging on the knife itself and scratched the date 1778 on the other side of the handle.

Here are some better pics in real sunlight that catch the colors and textures of it better than my shop lights.

 

[John Wasmuth]

:thumbsup: Nice!

 

[vthompson]

That sure is some mighty fine work that you have done there. The knife is beautiful and the sheath is nice looking as well. Keep up the great work.