Saving pennies and spending dollars is not all that economic. It will take more work, more supplies (files,sandpaper), and a lot more time..... to try and use some found steel that may or may not make a good knife anyway.
A kitchen knife set can be carbon steel, but you would need a better steel than those you listed. 1084 would do fine, and a piece that would make the whole set would cost maybe $10. Because you would have to file/sand away a lot of steel to get it thin enough, precision ground O-1 would be a better choice for you, especially considering the time frame ( about 90 days) you have is not very long for a person with no experience.
Once you have decided on the steel type,the things that you need to consider about making kitchen cutlery is the thickness and the blade shape. THIN is the main word in kitchen tools. Edge Geometry and Blade Shape are the other two big words. The last word in every knife is Heat Treatment.
Some suggestions are:
A four knife set would be-
Three thinner blades ; a 3" parer, a 4" boner, and a 5" chef; and one thicker blade being an 7" chef blade.This would be from 1/16" and 3/32" precision ground stock.O-1 comes in these sizes from most of the suppliers. From Jantz ( all items I list are available from Jantz) ,a piece of 3/32X1"X18" costs $12, a piece of 1/16X1.5"X18" costs $18.These two pieces could make about three ,four knife sets.
Make the bevels full flat grind ( also easier to do by hand with files and sandpaper).
Have someone else do the HT. Thin kitchen knives in O-1 ( or any other) steel are a bit more of a trick than a camp knife in 1084.
Use something durable but easy to work with hand tools for the handles.A slab of Dymondwood 1/4"X5"X10" costs $8 and would handle one set.Jantz has it in dozens of colors and patterns. Micarta and Corby fasteners would be best, but would require more skill and equipment. The Dymondwood will do fine.
Using good one hour epoxy ( about $3-5 ) and 1/8" brass rod for the rivets ( 1ft. for $1 would make one set), you could make three sets for about $60 in materials.....plus time and sandpaper. You could get the blades professionally heat treated for somewhere between $3 and $8 each ( and maybe for free at a nearby makers shop). If you paid $5 each for the HT on the blades, three knife sets would cost about $120 to make. One set would cost about $45, and you would have steel for two more sets on hand.
The Jantz catalog has pre-made kitchen knife blanks for sale that are ready for handles. They will offer a fast way to make a set of knives with little experience, and for a low price,too. The pictures will give you information and ideas on the blade shapes and thickness for ones you make yourself,too.
Good luck and get busy.......not all that many sanding days to Christmas.
Stacy
