Again file knives

M

Matthew Bolk

Joined
May 19, 2010
Messages
17
Hello to all! Two of my latest works... All of them made from old files. Full tang is amaranth wood, hidden tang is kingwood (pau violetto) with white micarta guard. I'm still trying to perfect my grinding skills... however I really enjoy making these! Thank you! :)

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You are off to a great start. Those look good. Did you heat treat them yourself?
People often criticize using old files in this age of readily-available steel. However, if you have ones that are truly steel through-and-through (older the better), then you are set. Just try to get them with consistency (same age and company, for example). In Peterson's book of American Knife History, he showed a lot of knives made from old files. It was common from the 1700s through the 1900s.
Not as much today, because we have Aldo!
 
I re-tempered these files in my kitchen oven, just about two cycles of 1 hour at 450 degrees, then cold ground, frequently dipping in water to prevent over-heating.
 
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