I recommend Mothers Mag & Aluminium Polish, I have achieved great results with it. The easiest way to do this is by use of a polishing chemical compound that contains fine abrasive grit. Please click here to check out and subscribe to the SurvivalCommonSense.Well, now that you are done forming the patina, you might have second thoughts and would want to clear the patina. This traditional design knife, with signs of use, is going to look really cool with the rest of my Civil War accouterments. It’s kinda like looking at art and enjoying a painting, photo or sculpture you’ve seen many times. I like arranging mine in displays at camp or when I’m out hunting or fishing and taking a break. If you’re like me, you enjoy looking at your gear. The best way to protect a carbon steel blade is to use it regularly, wipe it off before sticking it back in your pocket and make sure the knife stays dry. The patina may offer some protection from rust, but don’t count on it. The patina is purely cosmetic and won’t affect the knife’s durability or use. So is this vinegar stain thing something you should consider for your carbon steel blades? Regular camp use, and maybe cleaning some fish and peeling potatoes should make the knife look really authentic. The Russell carbon steel mountain man knife (top) has been used hard and aged naturally since I bought it new in the 80s.Ĭurrently, the patina is a little dark for my tastes, but the knife isn’t done. I like the design of the two blades, and the knife will be really handy. The next step is to carry the knife in my haversack or possibles bag and use it. I compared the finish to some carbon steel blades that had aged naturally, and the the pocket knife looked pretty authentic.

A couple hours later, the blade was evenly stained. Then, I got some apple cider vinegar, put it in a tall glass and submerged the blade, up to the handle. That stained the blade, but it didn’t look natural. I took some mustard, smeared it on the blade and let it sit for a couple hours. The idea was to let the patina develop naturally, but I couldn’t live with the random spots on the shiny steel. Well, I had kinda been thinking about aging the blade so it would pass for a 1860s era knife. When we got home, several hours later, and opened the bag, the blade had an ugly stain. She put the dirty eating utensils in a sealed plastic bag. The blade was immersed in vinegar for a couple hours. I didn’t think about staining the 1095 carbon steel blade, figuring I’d wipe it off when we were done eating.īut the Union cavalry appeared just below the hill, so I abandoned lunch, grabbed the Nikon and headed out. I was slicing cheese and ham with the Great Eastern, and enjoying one of my favorite snacks of crackers and sardines with mustard. They ended up fleeing back to Washington D.C., glad to escape the rebel hordes!)

At the first battle of Manasses, Virginia, there were a lot of civilian spectators who took picnic baskets to watch the show. About the time of the afternoon skirmish, Deb and I left the reenactment area, found a spot overlooking the skirmish area and spread out a picnic lunch on a blanket. Camps and clothing are all period-correct throughout the weekend.Īnyway, I was carrying my new, shiny Great Eastern slipjoint pocket knife. Along with scheduled events throughout the day, people showed and demonstrated activities and struggles during the war. A number of reenactors presented life within the Civil War in 1863. My wife, Debbie, and I were at the annual Civil War renactment at House on the Metolious in Central Oregon. Before: My pocketknife looked new and unused at this point.

Knife patina