Lee PrecisionInline FabricationRotoMetals2Repackbox
MidSouth Shooters SupplyLoad DataReloading EverythingWideners
Titan Reloading
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 49

Thread: New Forge for me, First try at making knives

  1. #1
    Banner Sponsor

    lar45's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Arkansas
    Posts
    2,823

    New Forge for me, First try at making knives

    Hello everybody.
    The boys and I were talking about wanting to make some knives, so wife got me a propane fired forge for Father's Day.

    The only thing that I had on hand when she gave it to me was a piece of who knows what round bar. So I heated it up, chopped off a piece, got out some hammers, and commenced to pounding. I used a piece of Cedar left over from a tree that we removed in the spring for the handles.

    It's ugly and I made a few mistakes, but I learned alot along the way.
    I ordered up a few different steels to try next and got some 5160 spring steel, 52100 bearing steel, 1080 and 1084. I have since been told that I should stick to one metal until I learn it, then move on to another one.
    For the second knife, I used the 52100 and went with stock removal instead of forging.

    The handles are black micarta. I made a few less mistakes on this one.


    I shifted gears and tried to make a pairing knife for the wife as her birthday is coming up.
    The blade is 52100 and I found some buffalo horn for the handles.

    I'm getting closer, but still have a ways to go yet.

    What would be a good steel to start with for a hunting knife that will be used for gutting, skinning, cleaning, and be resilient enough to cut through the brisket of an Elk? 5160?

  2. #2
    Boolit Master

    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Outback Queensland, North of the Tropic of Capricorn
    Posts
    1,290
    If your heat treating is good, and the blade design is also good, then any of those steels will make great knives. For heat treating, the 1084 is usually referred to as a good steel for learners like us. It is less likely to warp, isn't hard to get a good finish on, holds an edge well and sharpens easily.

    When I first started making knives I got some 440c and sent it out for heat treating. I then got some RWL34. I thought that I would try heat treating in my charcoal forge. It didn't go well. I got the steel too hot and when I went to pick it up, the steel tore like wet cardboard, leaving the blade in the coals and me holding the handle in my tongs. I then used some 1084 to make a hunter blade and it went well. I have since bought a heat treat furnace and done a couple of blades from 12c27 and another from the leftover RWL34 and all have gone well. But none of them are really any sharper than the Hunting blade that I made from 1084 and heat treated in the charcoal forge. I used warmed up canola oil for the quench and tempered in a toaster oven.
    WHEN IN DOUBT, USE MORE CLOUT!

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master Tatume's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    VA
    Posts
    5,574
    Very nice!

    I have a 3' piece of 3/4" x 1/8" A2 that I bought to begin making forged knives, but it's still in the paper sleeve. Just never got started. I'm glad to see you're on your way. And a good start it is too.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
    DerekP Houston's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2015
    Location
    Houston, Texas
    Posts
    2,877
    man, thats look good to me! Functional and homemade, I'd be proud to carry those.
    My feedback page if you feel inclined to add:
    http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...raight-Shooter

    Thanks Yall!

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
    Chad5005's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2018
    Location
    Buena Vista GA
    Posts
    715
    nice job

  6. #6
    Boolit Master RU shooter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    SW Pa.
    Posts
    2,928
    How long can that little forge run on a standard grill sized propane cylinder ?
    If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!

  7. #7
    Banner Sponsor

    lar45's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Arkansas
    Posts
    2,823
    I think they said 15-18 hours. I'm still on the first bottle.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Southwest MO.
    Posts
    1,886
    The road to good knife making may be a little long for some folks but I find it an enjoyable trip. I'm nowhere near the end but my knives are very serviceable and look like a knife. It wasn't always so.
    Ive made several out of old lawn mower blades. Since this is mystery metal a little experimenting is required to heat treat procedures.
    For the blades I have, Once made I heat to non magnetic and cool three or four times. This will almost assuredly keep it from warping. I quench in cold water and don't draw back.
    A file will barely scratch these but a stone will sharpen them pretty quick. I carry one at work and use it daily. When stripping wire or hitting metal it will dull a little. However a few licks on my pocket diamond and its sharp again. I built a flat blade screwdriver into the hilt which I use a lot. Ive done a considerable amount of prying and haven't broke it yet.
    I would rate the steel at slightly harder than my case pocket knife which I consider pretty good.
    I have two forging buddies and while we sometimes use known metal we agree that repurposing old high carbon metal is a very satisfying endeavor.

    Ps. An old rusty wrench from the flea market is well worth the 50 cents.
    Some people live and learn but I mostly just live

  9. #9
    Banner Sponsor

    lar45's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Arkansas
    Posts
    2,823
    Any pics of the screwdriver hilt???

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Southwest MO.
    Posts
    1,886
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0410.jpg 
Views:	94 
Size:	64.2 KB 
ID:	225339

    There are some things I don't like about this knife. I intend to rework or replace it someday. But overall it's pretty handy. The hilt was drilled full of holes before heat treating and old runny JB weld was applied and leather clamped on. Once cured I trimmed the leather and dipped in melted beeswax. This turned it dark. Ive used it hard daily for a year and the leather has held up well. It also feels good. Soft yet firm just like, well you know.
    Some people live and learn but I mostly just live

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Southwest MO.
    Posts
    1,886
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMG_0411.jpg 
Views:	55 
Size:	117.3 KB 
ID:	225340

    This is how I carry it. A fixed blade pocketknife. The whole affair can't be longer than your pocket.

    I don't know why these pics are upside down. I'm just surprised I can post them. This sight doesn't let me post pics easily anymore. In the past it was no problem.
    Some people live and learn but I mostly just live

  12. #12
    Boolit Master RU shooter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    SW Pa.
    Posts
    2,928
    Quote Originally Posted by lar45 View Post
    I think they said 15-18 hours. I'm still on the first bottle.
    Wow I was guessing 3-4 hrs running two burners full out !
    If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!

  13. #13
    Banned
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Posts
    2,911
    confusing up-side-down

  14. #14
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Southwest MO.
    Posts
    1,886
    Thanks, I'm working off an iPad and can't turn pics around. In the past I had found if I held my phone a certain way the pics would post right. I guess not so anymore.
    Some people live and learn but I mostly just live

  15. #15
    Banner Sponsor

    lar45's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Arkansas
    Posts
    2,823
    Thanks for the pics Looks great, I may have to try and make a daily carry something, sounds like great idea. I saved the last couple of sets of lawn mower blades I've replaced...

  16. #16
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Southwest MO.
    Posts
    1,886
    Since this was a prototype I didn't polish the scale off or try to get all the file marks out. Most of it has worn away in the last year though.

    The one thing I would change is to bring the cutting edge closer to the handle and leave off the notch. I generally like a notch because it lets me sharpen the blade all the way back. But with this knife I often cut plastic off pallets of material and the plastic hangs up back near the handle.
    Some people live and learn but I mostly just live

  17. #17
    Boolit Bub
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    33
    Sweet new hobby, looks good

  18. #18
    Boolit Master


    Taylor's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    1,767
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	20180812_085852.jpg 
Views:	74 
Size:	293.1 KB 
ID:	225443Click image for larger version. 

Name:	IMAG0021.jpg 
Views:	76 
Size:	86.7 KB 
ID:	225444

    Hope you don't mind me sharing........
    Pro Patria-Ne Desit Virtus

  19. #19
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Southwest MO.
    Posts
    1,886
    Nice setup, nice hawk. What was the doner metal. I assume you made that.
    Some people live and learn but I mostly just live

  20. #20
    Boolit Master


    Taylor's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    1,767
    Yep, I made it. Not donated..I stole it (brick hammer). Plus I killed the snake.
    Pro Patria-Ne Desit Virtus

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check