Beginner Books/Videos?

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exd3686

Joined
Feb 16, 2006
Messages
14
Gentlemen,

I've never made a knife before and am considering getting into knife making as a hobby. I plan on trying a few kits before jumping into buying expensive tools.

Can you recommend any good books and/or videos that cover stock removal, heat treating, grinding, and all the basics needed to start making knives.

I've learned so much just from this forum. Unfortunately, there is just not enough time in a day to soak up all the info.

Thanks for your help and such a great site.
 
Good idea on where to start.

The best books that I can think of are Wayne Godard's "Wonder of Knifemaking" and "50$ knifeshop" Both have lots of good info on both stock removal and forging. Anouther good book is Ed Fowler's "Knifetalk" 1&2.
 
I'll second Will's recommendations. The first knifemaking book I got was Step by Step Knifemaking by David Boye. It was a great beginner book, and it fits the guidelines you set out. I have about 10 different knifemaking books, and I'd suggest reading all you can, but either the Boye book or Wayne Goddard's 50$ knife Shop will get you on your way.

Todd
 
My vote for your needs - Tim McCreight's Custom Knifemaking. He walks you, step by step, through ten projects intended to teach you a wide variety of skills. He presumes only the most basic equipment and no previous knowledge. He also explains some of the more advanced equipment and even covers both forging and stock removal. An outstanding book for the 'newbie' of for the experienced maker looking to expand. I still refer to the book often.

Rob!
 
exd3686 said:
Gentlemen,

I've never made a knife before and am considering getting into knife making as a hobby. I plan on trying a few kits before jumping into buying expensive tools.

Can you recommend any good books and/or videos that cover stock removal, heat treating, grinding, and all the basics needed to start making knives.

I've learned so much just from this forum. Unfortunately, there is just not enough time in a day to soak up all the info.

Thanks for your help and such a great site.
Click to expand...

Kits are a good way to start.... or so they tell me. I started forging. The books already mentioned are good enough to start, but since you mentions heat treating I recommend "Metallurgy Theory and Practice" by Dell K. Allen. It can be found used.

Mostly I want correct you on the "expensive tools" part. That isn't neccessary. Files and a clamp will shape a knife. For a little more an angle grinder can do a lot of coarse work savine files and elbow grease. The "one brick forge" makes a heat treat oven. A hand drill and coping saw creates handle slabs.

Go ahead and start with a kit, it'll give you some experience on how a knife goes together, but while you're working on the search the archives here, bladesmiths forums, and knifeforums with keywords along the lines of start knife making, cheap start knife making, etc.
 
Just a beginner here but I found How to Make Folding Knives by Ron Lake, Frank Centofante, and Wayne Clay, Bob Terzuola's The Tactical Folding Knife, and Barney and Loveless' How to Make Knives pretty useful in addition to Will52100's recs.







J
 
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