knife making

[colbyjack]

any of you guys make your own knives? just courious, share some pics if you got em. im thinking bout making a fillet knife. -chris

[Pepe Ray]

Over the years I've dabbled. Spent more time dreaming than doing. Scavanged some chipped planer blades and chipper blades from the mill junk box ,back when.
A fillet blade should be flexable,--right? What are you gonna use?
Pepe Ray

[colbyjack]

thinking 1074 thin spring steel or a hack saw blade. -chris

[wiljen]

I dabble on occasion. Here is the last one I did.

http://castpics.net/knife/

[fourarmed]

The guys in our machine shop save the used and broken blades from the power hacksaw for me. I grind to shape, and install handles - usually antler or deer leg bone. It isn't fancy like Wiljen's work, but it makes a pretty good knife. It works especially well for a filet knife. No thinning necessary.

[Junior1942]

I used a Skil saw blade. See http://www.castbullet.com/makeit/knife.htm

[Pepe Ray]

Wiljen;
Did you forge the Damascus or use a blank? That's right pretty. Never got into it that deeply. I've got most of a moose antler (shed) that's earmarked for some hafts, if I should live so long.
Pepe Ray

[wiljen]

I bought the damascus from a forge in alabama. They do prettier work than I could and cheaper than I could to boot.

[DLCTEX]

Files and rasps make good knives, I made a fillet knife from an old crosscut saw blade bought at a farm auction. Got another one that is in better shape that I haven't brought myself to cut up. DALE

[jhalcott]

I heard file metal is prone to chipping due to its hardness. I was trying to make a blade when I worked in the steel mill and had some almost smooth files handy. I dropped it when I bumped the edge of the grinder and it broke when it hit the cement floor. I was care full to keeep the edge cool, but clumsy enough to drop it.

[Andrew Quigley]

Don't have any pics to share but I like to make some too. Kept the very first one I made and have given all the others away. I use chopsaw blades. Usually made from either bi-metal or L6 tool steel. Either way it's pretty hard but holds a good edge once sharpened.
I like to draw out my knife on the chopsaw blade and then cut it out with air grinder that has a siz wheel. Then final grind it. Worst thing for me is trying to drill the holes for the handle pins.

[Southern Son]

I don't have any that are worthy of photographing, I am halfway through a new Chef's Knife for SWMBO. Unfortunately I have been halfway through it for about 6 months. I was well into it back in my last house, but when I moved here, the house I moved into has no shed which means the linishing belt/grinder has had to be pulled apart so that I can lock it away to stop it being stolen from the open car port. I will get back to it eventually, I enjoy doing it too much.

[44man]

I have made a few over the years. Here are a few I have left. Two are made from bayonets. I left one blade full and ground the other for a skinning knife. It has skinned many hundreds of deer. I used scrap brass and lignum vitae wood.
I made the folder from scrap brass and tool steel. The rosewood inlays are 1/8" thick. It holds an edge great but if blood gets on the blade it will rust fast.

[DLCTEX]

When using a file or rasp in making a blade I first heat it red hot and let it cool slowly to take the temper out. After grinding to shape it is then retempered to a lesser hardness than the original file. I find the metal too brittle, as you did, unless treated this way. I haven't had time to make a knife in years now.DALE

[JeffinNZ]

My very good friend Keith in AL makes knifes. Here are some of his.

http://www.geocities.com/birddogsix/knives.html

[wonderwolf]

When I was in high school I made several when I did a bunch of blacksmithing. I did a little Damascus. Mostly old files and RR spikes. What really works well are load control bars off of old farm equipment. They run anywhere from 1" on up and really take a beating to get them flat. A knife maker friend of my dad's made me a custom sheath knife out of a old file as well. Really pretty knife with 3 temper lines in the blade and a Damascus guard. Someday I'm gonna do up some more Damascus as I have a trigger guard on a shotgun that is broke and needs replaced.

[VTDW]

I made this one from D-2 for a friend about 3 years back to cape the skull on elk. I copied one from Alaska Knives as I have no originality.









It cuts on both sides of the tip. He sent me an entire rack from his first elk to make the scales from. Boy was that a HUGE box they delivered.

[44man]

Very nice, I like it.
Wouldn't it be great to gather up all the collective talents on this site?

[Alvin in AZ]

Naturally I found this(!) thread while looking for information on lubing boolits...

http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/

Sorry about the knife-jargon I made the website and wrote all that crap;) specifically
for the guys on rec.knives newsgroup.

I made my first knife while working in a machine shop (was hurt couldn't work outside).

The HSS "fixed blade" was my fifth knife and the first one I kept for myself. :)
Anybody wanting to try their hand at knife making I suggest that same approach.

Don't be trying to... or thinking you have to... make the first one perfect. :)
There are plenty of people out there that'd love to have your "mistakes"! :)

Alvin in AZ
retired railroad signal-ape

[Razor]

Like another feller, I made them and gave'em away...
Well, did sell a few...
Didn't have a camera then, but never thought of taking any photos either..
I've made knives out of flat truck spring, RR spikes, files, coil springs, wire rope and chainsaw chain...
But only two out of my own Damascus..
About a 50/50 mix of antler or exotic wood handles..
I forged all mine in an old farriers forge that I relined/rebuilt.

Razor