Got my first camp knife. Now what?

[TheShaun]

Mora Companion (carbon) just arrived. Love the look and feel. I know I want to force a patina and like the look of the darker patina. Thinking vinegar for 24 hours should do it but I've never done it before. Thoughts on this?

I also want to be able to use the spine on a firesteel. I understand that I should probably square the spine, but how? Keep in mind I live in the downtown core of a major city and don't own a grinding wheel.

What else should I do to it?

 

[Graybeard57]

Go camping?

Enjoy your shaves!

 

[Legion]

It wont take 24 hours to force a patina. Dilute the vinegar about 50% and put it in for half an hour, then keep checking it. The patina does not need to be very dark to do its job.

 

[Miles]

Plenty of cool ways to force a patina. I like to just use my knife to cut up apples, but have coated a carbon blade in mustard before, as well as daubing one with hot vinegar multiple times until the surface turned black.

I'd say the next step would be to pick up a Ka-Bar Becker BK-2 for the opposite end of the camp knife spectrum and get out and enjoy using the hell out your new blades.

 

[hillbilly pick]

Pictures, pictures!

Congrats! It's camp knife, GO CAMPING! I'll come with

 

[mongoose]

To square the spine get a cheap drill press vise, two c clamps and some felt to attach to a table or desk. Clamp the blade between two blocks of wood and square the spine with a mill file. If you really want to throw some sparks use a large round shank screwdriver or burnishing tool to roll a burr on the edge the same as sharpening a card scraper.