a look at my own fixed blade.

James_Terrio said:
File knives are a great project for almost anyone. Please start with a good quality file such as Nicholson or Simmonds. Cheapo imports are usually case-hardened junk that will only dissappoint you in the end.

Fonly, did you temper the file back a bit? If not, the edge will be brittle and likely chip under use. A good starting point to temper a typical file is two cycles of one hour in the kitchen oven at 400F. This will soften it just enough so the edge isn't brittle, but will still keep a good edge. Test it with a brass rod.

On your next project, go ahead and put one or two pins through the scales/tang. JB Weld or epoxy will probably last a lifetime, but pins will add extra strength against the scales shearing off.

You may need a carbide bit to drill the tang, since you're working with hardened steel. They seem pricy, but they work great and last a long time. Set your drill to run slow and use cutting oil or tapping fluid to keep the bit cool.

Don't be afraid to take the bevels higher up the blade for a sharper, smoother-cutting knife. On a 3/16" or even 1/8" piece like that, there's plenty of steel for strength. You could go full-flat without worry, provided you temper the file as mentioned above.

Hope this doesn't sound too nit-picky! Your bevels look pretty darn even, that shows you have patience and skill. You've done a fine job and I hope you keep at it :) These are just tips I've learned. Enjoy! Just don't blame me or Nick if you get hooked on knifemaking :D
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Thanks......GIBSON!:D

haha, not nip pinky at all, thanks for the kind words. One other thing is I used a grinder for the majority of the shaping, then went to the sander. It was a very slow process, but I had alot of control over what I did.

One other thing, do you know what type of steel the file would be? This is from a nicholson file, an old one too. I have a bunch of them lying around so many more to come.:D
 
Fonly said:
It was a very slow process, but I had alot of control over what I did.
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Slow + control is a smart way to do it. As you do one or two more, you'll get a bit faster at it. Remember to keep the steel cool; if you turn it purple or blue, you've tempered it back way too far (soft) and it will need to be annealed and re-hardened.

One other thing, do you know what type of steel the file would be?
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I can't honestly say for certain, but it seems the consensus is, they're either 1095 or W1. For our purposes, it doesn't matter much, because it's already hardened and either of those steels is fine for knives. Stick with Nicholson or Simmonds and you should be fine.

Here's an article I just found on the subject by noted collector/historian Bernard Levine. He points out that in the old days, making knives from files probably wasn't as common as it is today, because back then files were more costly. It's an interesting read.
 
Great job. Files are hardened and tempered usually in the low to mid 60's so it will hold an edge well. A diamond hone will sharpen it easily.
Scott
 
Fonly said:
4" blade and 4" handle, 3/16" thick from I believe to be most likely 1095, or W2.
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thanks for the info.. I believe you have inspired me sir.. I've never tried a file knife before, I may just have to give it a shot.
 
Ken_McCarty said:
thanks for the info.. I believe you have inspired me sir.. I've never tried a file knife before, I may just have to give it a shot.
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I highly recommend it, its very rewarding seen the final product, when I finished this one ( or at least when i first thought I was finished:rolleyes:) I began going at it again with a new picture in my mind. Finally ended with that and am pretty happy with it.

I actually started my next one today, its 1/8" thick and same make and style of wood rasp. Its a little more substantial (length wise) but I think over all it will make a nice user. Also thinking of going convex with this one to see how well I can do it.

thanks for the support guys, I have how to make the knives down, now I just need to work on fit and finish. :o:D
 
You did a good job. James covered some good points. I can add that I had a talk with a customer rep from Copper tool, parent company for Nickolson file, a few years back. Ask him about the steel in there files. His answer was that if I treated there regular files like w2 and there farrier rasp like 1095 I would have good results.
 
Looks good!

I knew an old biker who used to make knives out of nicholson files as well. I was surprised how nice they came out too. That steel really takes a wicked edge if you hone it right.

How much time would you say you spent on it? I think I'd like to give something like this a whack.

You're off to a good start. Now you just need a forge, a slackbelt setup, and a bunch of other stuff and you're all set! :p
 
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