The maker has created two completed fixed-blade knives featuring a deep matte black blade finish. These pieces utilize composite handle scales that are contoured and secured with hardware, giving the knives a rich, aged steel appearance. The entire process involved etching the high carbon steel to prevent orange rust, relying on tea tannins to convert the red oxides into black oxide for protection.
The creation process began when bare steel knife blanks, which had skeletonized handles, were prepped with 70 grit AO sandblasting. The maker then combined hydrogen peroxide, iodized salt, and distilled white vinegar in a stainless steel pan, heating the mixture on a camp stove. Immersing a knife blank into this boiling, foaming solution caused a rapid oxidation, coating the blanks in crusty orange-brown rust.
Following the initial oxidation, the blanks were coated in 3% hydrogen peroxide and submerged in a tannic acid bath, which was made using water and Bigelow Earl Grey black tea bags. This tannic bath is noted as assisting in the conversion of the initial red oxides into a durable black patina. While the maker successfully achieved a deep patina, the stainless steel pan itself remained unblackened, which is an interesting outcome.
For the final look, the maker explored different finishing techniques. The overall finish provides a deep patina similar to aged steel, and black oxides successfully protect the steel against orange rust. The maker demonstrated that steel wool between rounds achieves the desired depth, while 800 grit abrasive used along the grinds results in a worn appearance. It is interesting to see the choice between these methods for the final presentation.