Advice for a very very inexperienced novice?

[thedmasterr]

I've never made a complete blade, just customized, repaired, restored, and tinkered with production knives. I love working with my hands and know my way around the shop, so I figured I'd give making my own blade a try. I can almost guarantee that my first hundred or so attempts will result in me throwing blades in the scrap pile but I have to start somewhere, right?

So. Please share your wisdom so that I may not screw up as badly

 

[Lorien]

quit while yer ahead!

seriously- if you haven't already, invest a few hundred bucks in a custom knife. Learn starting there.

 

[Hmathews]

thedmasterr, click on the Makers forum at the top of the page and spend some time reading. See if you can find a maker near by that you can visit. A hammer-in that is close enough to attend can provide lots of information and some great contacts. Other than that, just do it. If you want to bad enough, it will happen.

 

[Ochs]

There are four things I would suggest, the first you have started already. Hang out as you can on a knife forum and like Harry says check out the Makers forum...search it for your questions. Second, Lorien is right go to a knife show or even a gun shop that carries knives and check them out...buy something that you like. Third, read Loveless and Barney's book or one of Wayne Goddard's books. Here is a link: http://www.usaknifemaker.com/how-to-make-knives-by-barney-and-loveless-p-788.html Fourth, just go for it!

Eric