Anyone into knife making??

[mmbbc]

Just started making knives.. did a couple so far from old files and turned out pretty well. Any advice on techniques or tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

[blkdlaur]

Just started making knives.. did a couple so far from old files and turned out pretty well. Any advice on techniques or tips would be appreciated.

Watch “Forged in Fire” on the History Channel real pros on that show - can learn a lot from watching the contestants too.

 

[mmbbc]

I never miss forged in fire.. great show. I’m not forging steel to begin with. An elderly gentleman gave me a big stack of 1095 steel flat stock so I’m shaping it with an angle grinder and then going quench it. This is another old file that I roughed out.

 

[blkdlaur]

WOW that’s impressive !!!!!

 

[blkdlaur]

LUV tanto knives !!!

 

[mmbbc]

I’m making the knife for my brother in law.. had to heat it in my forge to soften the tang so I could drill the pin holes.

 

[mmbbc]

LUV tanto knives !!!

Me too.. grinding the tip was an experience lol

 

[blkdlaur]

I’m making the knife for my brother in law.. had to heat it in my forge to soften the tang so I could drill the pin holes.

Yeah I would imagine files are hardened steel - must be hard to shape

 

[blkdlaur]

I’m making the knife for my brother in law.. had to heat it in my forge to soften the tang so I could drill the pin holes.

Lucky guy - great gift !!!!

 

[blkdlaur]

Me too.. grinding the tip was an experience lol

I bet

 

[mmbbc]

Yeah I would imagine files are hardened steel - must be hard to shape

Extremely hard.. thank goodness for a drill press

 

[blkdlaur]

Extremely hard.. thank goodness for a drill press

I guess - sounds like you’d need one for sure and special drill bits as well

 

[mmbbc]

I guess - sounds like you’d need one for sure and special drill bits as well

I have my dad’s old drill press.. works great. The 1095 the guy gave me is not hardened so shaping it isn’t too bad.

 

[blkdlaur]

Ever see the movie “The Hunted” with Tommy Lee Jones” it’s about field expedient knife making and knife fighting - it’s GOOD.

 

[mmbbc]

Ever see the movie “The Hunted” with Tommy Lee Jones” it’s about field expedient knife making and knife fighting - it’s GOOD.

yes I have.. good movie

 

[blkdlaur]

I have my dad’s old drill press.. works great. The 1095 the guy gave me is not hardened so shaping it isn’t too bad.

Yeah completely different story than old files but then ya have to temper it pretty good I would guess

 

[mmbbc]

Yeah completely different story than old files but then ya have to temper it pretty good I would guess

I had a few old files laying around so I started with them. The quench is an art unto itself. Lol

 

[blkdlaur]

Yeah seems like the trickiest part of knife making to me

 

[mmbbc]

The deer antler knife was an old small file. The bigger knife I found almost 30 years ago and just restored it with a new handle. Still working on polishing the blade. FYI the red and black spacers are poker chips.

 

[blkdlaur]

Looks like you’re developing some considerable skills - Forged in Fire could be in your future