What Do I Need To Know Before Making My First Knife?

[JSMcustoms]

First off, the title of the thread pretty much says it all. I've been thinking about trying to make my first knife for a while now, though I have no idea on where to start with this? I guess one of the first things would be what tools do I need. I'm pretty sure I have most of them in my overflowing toolbox and workshop/shed. Any help on how to get started would be appreciated.

[yablanowitz]

That's a big, open field. Are you interested in forging, or are you thinking stock removal (grinding)? The first I made was forged out of drill rod using a propane space heater for a forge one cold winter day. It was (and is) ugly as original sin, but it worked for the beater chores I made it to do. The second was ground out of an old file. In retrospect, I probably should have annealed it first (it's a real chore to sharpen) but I had no clue how to reharden it. Those knives were made with next to nothing for tools. Hammer, anvil, bench grinder, a 100,000 btu/hr space heater (okay, that one is a little unusual) and enthusiasm. You can probably get much better information by visiting "Around the grinder" in the Knifemakers forum.

[12345678910]

Try the info in Shoptalk
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/fo...ns-and-Answers


and I post this quite often

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/sh...8#post10959248




Start in Shoptalk by posting a first knife thread with some photos of your design sketch and we'll hash it out with you.

[kvaughn]

Get a piece of steel and grind away everything that doesn't look like a knife.Voila!--KV