hunter gray and a couple of others

[OconeeDan]

Thought I would post this as I am really pleased at the outcome.  My new "hunter gray", I am sure I am not the first to do this but it is the first couple of knives I have made like this.
D2 carbon steel, dunked in the same ferric chloride that you etch damascus steel with.  Nice gray patina that is very similar to parkerizing.  Time will tell, but I bet it has the same protective qualities that parkerizing has.
This knife has bone handle
 
This knife has spalted/wormy tamarind handle
 
And a couple of others I have finished recently...
Green canvas micarta on cpm154 stainless steel 4" droppoint
 
desert ironwood on damascus steel (billet made by Alabama Damascus)
 

[LEOPARD]

Nice knives!  

[Ray Hammond]

beauties Dan!!!! I like the sheath work , too.

[kbaknife]

Hey, Dan, that's cool!
I have taken that process a step further, and you might try it some time:
I find the raw etch a little too radical of a patina, and a little rough, so I clean it off with 0000 steel wool really well.
Then, I take a flexible block of hard rubber and wrap some chamois leather around it. Get it wet, and then rub out the blade with BonAmi household cleanser!! it's a really fine no-scratch kitchen/bath cleaner, costs about $.07 pound, and leaves the blade a really nice satin grey and really smooooooooooooooooooooooth.
Aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!

[MYSTIKBOW]

Great idea dan. I really like the outcome. If it holds up like parkerizing does that will be somthing for sure.
 Dang!, but really like that green canvas micarta!
A beautiful bunch of knive Dan.

[OconeeDan]

Thanks guys.
Karl, got any photos of what you are talking about?  Sounds like you have been there and done that.
By the way, what the heck made you try "hard rubber block and wet chamois with bon ami" instead of your fingers dipped in valve grinding compound?  Is that some French thing?
But if you say it works good, looks like I have to try it.
Dan

[Lin Rhea]

You guys are enjoying this knifemaking thing too much!    

I picked up a carton of Rottenstone, but have not tried it yet. It's very fine powdered pumice. I actually was thinking of using it to polish out some damascus blades for a brighter finish, but it might work for your finish Dan. Ever tried it Karl?   Lin

[kbaknife]

Lin, for nine years I re-built concert Grand Pianos in Miami, Fla. I was in charge of the finish work and would do as many as 30 lacquer coats and then hand rub them prior to buffing for mirror finish.
I used a LOT of Rottten Stone.
Makes me reflect a little bit.
I would hand wet-sand starting with 220 or 400 just like a knife handle! All the way through about 1200 and then Rotten Stone, buff, etc.
Think a knife takes along time?
Try a black lacquer, nine foot concert Steinway sometime.
Anyway, I chose the Bon Ami cleanser because it can be found almost anywhere, Dollar "type" stores, Wal Mart, etc.
Really good stuff, and I think I'll use it more on my working knives:
 

[skullworks]

Sweet job Dan!!!!