Blade thickness?

D

Dagr

Joined
Jan 25, 2006
Messages
76
Hello everyone, this is my first post. I've been lurking for a month or two now, and I have a question that I was hoping you could help with.

My brother scrounged me a piece of O1 steel from his work, it's 8.5" long, 2" deep, and a full 1/4 inch wide. This seems awfully thick to me. Should I take it down to 3/16 for a general purpose knife?

The only two knives I have are both 1/8 inch thick, and I think that might be a little thin for the depth of this blade (should be about 1 1/2" when finished)

Since I'm currently at school, they have a full machine shop here, and I want to get any major surgery out of the way before the end of school, when I'm stuck at home with a bench and some files :O)

Thanks for any advice. Have a great day everyone!
~ Dagr
 
At 8.5" you are going to end with a 4" blade at most if you are making a full tang knife, hidden tang a little longer. I personally think that 1/4" is quite thick for a 4" long blade. I would be considering reducing it to 3/16" at most and preferably 5/32". Just a personal opinion, you need to do what will please you at the end of the day, unless of coarse you are making it to sell, then you need to consider what will be appealing to potential customers.
Jim
 
Thanks for the quick reply. This is my first knife, and I hope it will be with me for a few decades! I'm planning on a 5.25" blade and hidden tang. I've read that it's better to have the tang hidden, and sealed in the handle, with a non-stainless steel, than risk it rusting at the edges (of a full tang) where sweat can creep and hide.

I just grabbed a vernier caliper (I'd be in class, but it was cancelled..) and I think 3/16 is ideal.

I'm trying to keep it very simple for now. O1 blade, maple handle, no bolsters, something akin to this :
http://www.stainlessdamascus.com/ATS34/photos/photo7.html

Later,
~ Dagr
 
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