A Newbie Checking In

[Randydb]

Hi,
Been lurking a bit and I think its time to begin to participate. My basic background is that I learned to build drums (yes rock and roll drums) and native american flutes through forums like this one. Lurked for a while, "assembled" by buying blanks and parts and doing the marking out, some forming, drilling and finishing, and then moved to building from a board.
I recently started the search for a knife for my son and a friend. In my search I came across knife blanks and realized I could get access to some very nice blades and do the scales and finishing work myself. I would have a personalized unique gift for them.

I am unsure of the type of steel I want to use but know that I want to do a drop point hunting knife. I also have a lot of unique wood for scales and understand stabilizing wood and wood finishing.

So I know this isn't in the league of what you guys are doing, but I am hoping I am in the right place. Is starting with a blade and doing the scales and finishing work a reasonable place to start?

 

[Bo T]

I'd say, given the information you have shared, it is the ideal beginning place. Let us know what you decide.

 

[logem]

Your plan forward sounds perfect to me.

I started with a few knife kits and then decided that I really enjoyed crafting knives, and that I'd like to try my hand at grinding and making a hunting knife from a premium stainless blade steel.

I'd assume that you've noticed that there is a large variety of knife blanks available through the larger knife making supply houses?

 

[Kevin Cross]

I started with a few knife kits and was quickly "hooked" by knife making, as were many of the members here. As Michael pointed out, most of the large knife supply houses have quite a variety of knife blanks as well as all of the handle, guard, nuts, bolts etc that you need you get going.

Good luck and pop in as you run into questions.

 

[Harden Knives]

Hi,
Been lurking a bit and I think its time to begin to participate. My basic background is that I learned to build drums (yes rock and roll drums) and native american flutes through forums like this one. Lurked for a while, "assembled" by buying blanks and parts and doing the marking out, some forming, drilling and finishing, and then moved to building from a board.
I recently started the search for a knife for my son and a friend. In my search I came across knife blanks and realized I could get access to some very nice blades and do the scales and finishing work myself. I would have a personalized unique gift for them.

I am unsure of the type of steel I want to use but know that I want to do a drop point hunting knife. I also have a lot of unique wood for scales and understand stabilizing wood and wood finishing.

So I know this isn't in the league of what you guys are doing, but I am hoping I am in the right place. Is starting with a blade and doing the scales and finishing work a reasonable place to start?

I started with kits and after four or five, I opened up shop and started from scratch.

I noticed that 440c is what most blanks are but you can get some damascus blanks for a good deal.

All you really need for kit knives are drill bits, sandpaper, files/rasps and spare time.

Let us know how it goes and make sure you post lots of pictures! (us knife guys love the WIPs)