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"Home Brew" Bush Knives - Part Four
by Keith A. Williams
I finished shaping the blade profile with a 6” mill bastard file. When I was satisfied, I used the file to start flattening the edge bevels. I like a knife with a true flat grind from the spine to the edge. Once I had established the bevels, I refined the edge by honing on a coarse India oilstone followed by one of much finer grit. Finally, I used a leather belt on a 1 x 42” belt sander to buff the edge to a hair-popping degree of sharpness. The use of a leather strop, especially when loaded with polishing compound, is a real aid in producing truly sharp edges. It is how Granddaddy kept his straight razor in shape! An old leather belt works well for this job.
I used the fluid produced by boiling acorns in water to stain the hickory handle slabs of the knife. This tannin-rich broth is full of oils, and produces a pretty finish on light colored hardwoods. Then, I sealed it by buffing in neutral shoe polish. This leaves a nice, lustrous surface. Bee's wax will also work well for this, and the heat from the friction of buffing will drive the finish into the pores of the wood.
At this point, I was finished with my new knife. The finished product sports a golden, smooth handle, and a 5” blade with a mirror polished bevel. This knife is a joy to use, and for me, it is every bit as wonderful as I’d imagined. It is well sited to any job I need a belt knife for. If someone would like to try this project, BE CAREFUL! I do not condone, nor do I take any responsibility - should anyone attempt any such or similar modifications, and caution you to never attempt such activities without the proper combination of supervision, approved eye protection and safety equipment.
I used the fluid produced by boiling acorns in water to stain the hickory handle slabs of the knife. This tannin-rich broth is full of oils, and produces a pretty finish on light colored hardwoods. Then, I sealed it by buffing in neutral shoe polish. This leaves a nice, lustrous surface. Bee's wax will also work well for this, and the heat from the friction of buffing will drive the finish into the pores of the wood.
At this point, I was finished with my new knife. The finished product sports a golden, smooth handle, and a 5” blade with a mirror polished bevel. This knife is a joy to use, and for me, it is every bit as wonderful as I’d imagined. It is well sited to any job I need a belt knife for. If someone would like to try this project, BE CAREFUL! I do not condone, nor do I take any responsibility - should anyone attempt any such or similar modifications, and caution you to never attempt such activities without the proper combination of supervision, approved eye protection and safety equipment.
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