A thread of first knives....show off what you made when you started out!

I have been thinking about playing around with knife making. The bar is set high! Really impressive for first time on a lot of these.

Nathan, your knife is incredible! (the link). Really cool to see just how far 18 years can get you.
 
Forged from low carbon steel, stag handle cut with a hack sw, nails for rivets.
Made in 1961.
 

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Yeah? Not sure why it posted that way.
Here, this is better.
 

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The year was 1973-four years before I ever sold a knife. File, dremel tool, 3/8" Rockwell drill. I went thru
a period of making knives/scalpels from bolts and files, then to Indian Ridge blades, and back to doing it myself.
Not sure it was #1 but very early.
The swayback was a couple of weeks ago. Ken.

102_0294_edited-1-1.jpg
 
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Wow what a difference 38 years makes! What was the handle on that first knife off of Ken...looks like a wheelbarrow handle :)
 
This was the first I had made in better than 25 years. All the knives I made as a teen were not as good as this one and I don't have any pics of them thankfully!

First in 25 years finished in 2010
DSC_0401.jpg


2nd in 25 years finished 2 weeks later 2010
DSC_0411.jpg


Last knife completed August 2011
DSC_1001.jpg


Charlie
 
kc custom said:
The year was 1973-four years before I ever sold a knife. File, dremel tool, 3/8" Rockwell drill. I went thru
a period of making knives/scalpels from bolts and files, then to Indian Ridge blades, and back to doing it myself.
Not sure it was #1 but very early.
The swayback was a couple of weeks ago. Ken.

102_0294_edited-1-1.jpg
Click to expand...

If anyone doesn't pause a moment when they see this picture, I think they are missing the point of this thread. Thank you, Ken.
 
Agreed! I should have modified the post for people to show where they started, and where they are today. I'm glad some took the initiative to do that anyway, thanks again!!
 
My first KSO (Knife Shaped Object) from 2006 and one of the last ones from the beginning of this year. Of those 5 years, I had to stop for about 2 and the other 3 as a hobby/very part time. (Wish I had more time in the shop :()

knife5.jpg


persian01.jpg


I say this not to brag but so that people who are beginning don't get discouraged in thinking that it takes 30+ years to make some progress. Of course I am not saying that my knives compare in any way with Ken's. :o Just that you can get better if you work at it. Believe me, if I can do it, you can. Good thread!
 
GrizzlyBear said:
Agreed! I should have modified the post for people to show where they started, and where they are today. I'm glad some took the initiative to do that anyway, thanks again!!
Click to expand...
Awesome idea.... I will edit my post to reflect the same. It would be difficult for others to do the same.

Rick
 
Sounds like a plan!

Those of you who have posted thus far, if you would be so kind as to edit your original post with an added picture of a knife indicative of your current level of work.

It's quite amazing to see the current work compared to our first attempts!
 
Ok....I suppose i can post this...
paintings059.jpg

First knife...circa 2003 i think, didn't make another until 2006
Here is the last one i have done, this is #12
P1030545-1.jpg


This knife has had a small handle redo...was a touch bulky, but will get new pics up as soon as i get them
 
Patrice Lemée;10036075 said:
My first KSO (Knife Shaped Object) from 2006 and one of the last ones from the beginning of this year. Of those 5 years, I had to stop for about 2 and the other 3 as a hobby/very part time. (Wish I had more time in the shop :()

knife5.jpg


persian01.jpg


I say this not to brag but so that people who are beginning don't get discouraged in thinking that it takes 30+ years to make some progress. Of course I am not saying that my knives compare in any way with Ken's. :o Just that you can get better if you work at it. Believe me, if I can do it, you can. Good thread!
Click to expand...
Fantastic knife Patrice, not at all sure I could come close to making one like it. In all fairness that was not anywhere near full time or even part time for a while. Also books and info were pretty scarce back then. I do have my first book though and
its by the late Blackie Collins a hardcover. it goes thru making a sraight blade, and a lockback in the gerber factory at the time With todays sharing of ideas, forums like this, and willingnes to help other makers many many years could be knocked off the learning curve as is obvious by the great creations being made by fairly new makers Ken.
 
Thanks for the good words guys.
Ken, that swayback is very nice. I was planning of giving folders a try this fall but life may have other plans for me, we'll see.
 
Wow, this has changed into a pretty cool idea. Here are pics of my very first knife and my most recent. I haven't been at it as long as some but I already see big changes in how I work and finish steel. Some great pictures here.

Here is my first design:
2ndKnifecompleted5-1.jpg


And here is one I just finished a couple days ago:
MiniSpearPoint011.jpg


MiniSpearPoint007.jpg
 
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