Cheap knives for practice?

T

Tripletap1

Joined
Jul 13, 2014
Messages
133
I am trying to get into some knife making, I live in an apartment without a backyard or workshop, so things are limited.
I have been using cheap knives for practice, this was a knife that a friend of mine and I worked up, using a crappy $12.00 CRKT Chinese copy, what do ya think for a crap knife?
I have another one made out of a cheap Pakistani Damascus blank, gotta find those pics, will share later.

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It's a start right?
Decided to start with the cheap stuff, cause who knows, plus I can start experimenting on grinds and stuff without screwing up a $100 blade. :mad:
 
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My Pakistani damascus.

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Sorry about the crappy pics, every time I want to buy a better camera, a new knife "Need" pops up.
 
Cajun Kamikaze said:
Yea, it's a start. You gotta be in the "in" crowd to get stroked around here....
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No you don't. Most people comment on the stuff they like. Myself, I lean towards the custom fighters and daggers.
Not all, but some. The Bladesmith Q&A is a good sub forum to get encouragement and knifemaking advice.
 
Burl Source said:
No you don't. Most people comment on the stuff they like. Myself, I lean towards the custom fighters and daggers.
Not all, but some. The Bladesmith Q&A is a good sub forum to get encouragement and knifemaking advice.
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Oh, you commented just to argue about it.... Interesting.
 
I just bought a Terzuola designed Meyerco knife from knifecenter for $100, which was on sale. Usually retail is $400. Handle slabs are removable and fastened with bolts, so easy to get apart. You'll end up with a quality, US made knife when you're done...
 
I'm guessing that the top picture is the original cheap knife.

Very good work. What's important is that it feel comfortable in your hand. That's my basic rule of thumb when I am shaping handles.
Handle shaping can be challenging, and it looks like you are off to a good start.

I don't like that thumb ramp-looking bump on that last one. To each his own, but I think I would grind it off. First, I would draw it on paper, to see how it looks without the bump, then I might grind it off.
 
Cajun Kamikaze said:
Oh, you commented just to argue about it.... Interesting.
Click to expand...

Really... berating a forum supporter and great source for materials. He was just trying to help and let the op know that he might do better in a different sub forum.

to the op practice is practice any way you come by it, but a cheap blade will always be a cheap blade. maybe try using old hickory knives and modding them as they are quality "inexpensive" blades. maybe even rehandle a mora or buy mora/ helle blank blades available on the cheap. just a few ideas to maybe help. no offense on what you have already done just think you could source elsewhere for a better product.
 
building on what moraldilemma said:
ragweedforge.com
thompsonsknives.com

both have supplies for making stick-tang knives. The blades they have are very reasonably priced. Thompsonsknives.com also has some tools.

I think stick-tangs have at least two advantages:
1. balance/lightweight
2. They feel warm to the hand on a cold day vs full tang.
 
A good friend of mine made that sheath, he forges knives and axes, builds bows and arrows, makes Atlatl's, and teaches, all that stuff including all types of fire making etc.. Really cool guy, Native American, and a wealth of knowledge!!
I am going too start learning all that stuff from him, I think we are gonna start with RR Spikes.
Do you want to see more pics of the sheath?
 
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I really like the idea of using "Old Hickory" and "Mora" for blade stock to work with, I will start doing that, that is the one thing I really do not like about most Moras, good steel, and very rugged, but those handles really turn me off, so an nice new handle by "me" could be really exciting, I will do this!!!
 
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