Knives

[sundog]

In chat last evening I was urged to start this thread, as we had been discussing knives and sharing pics. So here it is. If you have built or repaired a knife and want to share the project, here's the place to do it.

The knife below belonged to my grandfather. It is a J. C. Higgins, circa early 1920s as fas as I know. I remember him having it when I was a kid. It originally wore some pretty 2-tone yellow bakelite handles which completely deteriorated into 'crumblies'. The 'new' handles were fashioned from an old hickory ax handle and are hard as nails. I shaped them to suit me, and I carry this knife when hunting. It's been well used over the years, and holds a keen edge.

[45nut]

this is one I just finished up,, recycled an old blade and made a new handle for it,, cobbled up a sheath as well.

[dk17hmr]

Here are a couple I have done.
Bought these blanks.






Made this one out of an old file and a mule deer antler.

[sundog]

Well, I got my loupe out this evening and checked the Pat. No. 196747? (on the side not shown) and is seems to be from 1934. I was off on date a little maybe on when Gramps may have gotten knife, but it's clearly marked JCHiggins in cursive with the Pat. No. . Very fine steel. I'm honored to be be the current custodian...

[Tazman1602]

OH! OH! OH!!

NICE KNIVES guys! I've got a Colt Bowie (YES, made by the "old" Colt about 20 years ago...) that I'll try to get a pic of for you!

Art

[Le Loup Solitaire]

Have been thinking about making my own. This came about after having just been walking in the woods and meeting one of the local "experts" on all things. Theres always at least one afield at all times. I was advised to use old chain saw bars or discarded circular saw blades as sources as they are made of good steel. I came up with a couple of each and they seem to be pretty hard stuff; I had some difficulty cutting them so resorted to grinding. I'm no metallurgist so don't know whether they are high carbon steel or what might be their rockwell hardness. Is this venture worthwhile messing with? Is there any tempering process necessary somewhere down the line to make things better or can good knife blades be made directly from either the bars and/or the blades. Any good advice, opinion or wisdom would be appreciated. Thanx. LLS

[Mk42gunner]

LLS,

I have two of Wayne Goddard's books- "Wayne Goddard's $50 Knife Shop" and "The Wonder of Knifemaking" that are very informative and down to earth about making knives and heat treating them. I would like to take a class from Mr. Goddard; if I ever had both time and money together.

"How to Make Knives" by Richard W. Barney and Robert W. Loveless seemed to be more "you need high dollar equipment and lots of experience to even think about it" to me. Although Bob Loveless' guide to making pouch type sheaths is worth the cost of the book. I have made a few knife sheaths and some holsters using his directions for guidance.


Hope this helps,

Robert

[bohica2xo]

Here are a couple:








I cut the blanks for those from D2 tool steel, and rough milled them. They were finished by a Knifemaker in Loveland, CO - Adren Tuxhorn. He told me he would probably not do another knife in D2 after that pair. He had never used D2 before, and I had heat treated them to 57 Rc

I will have to look for the other knife pics, I have several.

B.

[Tazman1602]

This is my Colt Bowie knife. Mom got me this for Christmas about 15 years ago. It's the #1 Knife I own -- and it's also the most despised. Despised because it cost her so much all it does is sit in it's presentation rack and get polished once a year -- I hate trailer queens, safe queens, and wallhangers. I'd much rather have something I can use and abuse but it sure is PURTY and I LIKE looking at it!! I know, I'm strange........

The cartridge is a .450 Marlin for perspective.

Art

[Ekalb2000]

All very nice knives.
I scrounged up some 1/4in steel. Got one peice over two foot long, can you say bowie!
Been doing alot of reading over on the bladeforum. Got a few ideas for hawks as well from over there.
Going to make something very simple, like dk17, and bohica.
And of course a bowie!
Tax, how much does that thing weigh?

[Tazman1602]

All very nice knives.
I scrounged up some 1/4in steel. Got one peice over two foot long, can you say bowie!
Been doing alot of reading over on the bladeforum. Got a few ideas for hawks as well from over there.
Going to make something very simple, like dk17, and bohica.
And of course a bowie!
Tax, how much does that thing weigh?

You know I neve wieghed it but it's heft is about like a Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 mag 7.5" barrel I used to have so I'd guess around 3.5-4.5 lbs?? Too heavy to carry all day!

Art

[Ivantherussian03]

nice knives.....i will post some of mine soon.

[Von Gruff]

I have made a few for myself over the years. Started the first one after I lost a good Schrade in about '78 and have not used a store bought since. These three are what I gravitated to as far as design goes in that they are the most practical for my needs. I have only soft skined animals to deal with and the drop point works beter than most for this task.
The top one, my camp knife, is walnut and brass and I made it over 20 years ago. It has seen a lot if hard work and has even been used to dress out numerous sheep for the freezer. Middle one, is African Blackwood and nickle silver and is now my main hunting knife for goat to deer sized animals. Only had a couple of hunts as I only finished it last year.
The little Ivory and nickle silver one is my small game knife although I have used it for goats as well. It does a great job on rabbits. Have just finished my first and probably my last pocket knife and it is 440c and titanium.





Von Gruff.

[trent2]

Here's a couple I did.
The Ulu was for my wife and the other one was a gift to a friend as a retirement present.
The display case is from some cooling tower redwood from the plant we work at.

[DLCTEX]

Le Loup Solitaire: I would remove the temper from the steel before cutting it to shape and grinding the form, then retemper the blade. I have made knives from old files, car springs (leaf type), and saw blades. I plan to make a bowie from a spring leaf when I retire, soon I hope.

[Crusty Deary Ol'Coot]

Like Knives!!!!!!

Enjoy these posts, yes I do.

Have thought about having a fellow from the MaCall, Idaho area make me a knife.

He has a good reputation and has been written up in some mags.

However, if I did so, when ask what shape I wanted would just say make it like a Buck Vangard.

So, what would be the point, I already have one of those which I consider to be the best hunting knife I have ever had, at least as far as shape.

At my age, I'd just as well pay for the knife and have my son order the shape and size he wants as he would be to one to get the use from it.

I have thought about trying my had at knife making, but wasn't sure I was up to the task.

Did take a blade which already had the basic skinner shape and tang in place and did enough finishing to get it usable.

A fellow I once knew was into making knives from planer blades for awhile and he had a couple partly finished and laying in a corner where he worked.

AI guess I droooled on them long enough as he gave me my choice.

Poured an aluminum handle on the knife.

Don't pack it as I carry the smaller/lighter Vangard, but it is called to duty for skinning once I get the critter home.

HARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeoooooo that planer blade is hard. Have never had it chip, but it sure ain't easy to get sharp.

Keep em coming!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot