Crook knife project-Custom handle and a practice blade (56K may trigger Armageddon)

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SkogKniv

Joined
Jul 25, 2009
Messages
465
So here is the deal,

First I picked up some shit steel at the hardware store. Its called "plain steel". So I could do a trial run making the blade on my 4"x36" grinder. It came out way better than I had hoped. The steel lacks any properties for hardening so that's out. However at least now I know I can do it.

The handle I did make however. I had two rather large acrylic stabilized curly Maple scales. I epoxied them together. Them trimmed them up. Cut out a basic shape, then worked it on the sanders.

Some hand sanding later and it was finished. I did not make any holes for the blade yet, because that would be useless.

Now I just need to locate the proper sized steel for the blade. It might take a while. I lack the tools to cut larger bars to the right widths.

I will show the handle first, then the blade.





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That is very nice- I think that'll work just fine- better than some handles I've seen. Very nice work. Can't wait for the finished knife.
 
Neat! Although I'm kind of surprised that with all the effort expended you didn't choose a high carbon steel. Plenty to be had for cheap in the form of old lawn mower blades, etc. Nice work just the same. I've heard it said that the old time north woods indians and trappers could make just about anything with a crooked knife, definitely an interesting bush craft tool.
 
Nice job skogkniv, as usual your finish work is impeccable. I love seeing your traditional scandinavian schwag, makes me veeeery jealous. I'm working on carving a lefse paddle right now from a chunk of red oak 1x4
 
x39 said:
Neat! Although I'm kind of surprised that with all the effort expended you didn't choose a high carbon steel. Plenty to be had for cheap in the form of old lawn mower blades, etc. Nice work just the same. I've heard it said that the old time north woods indians and trappers could make just about anything with a crooked knife, definitely an interesting bush craft tool.
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Well I did say in the first post that I wanted to do a trial run, to see if the grinder could produce that kind of blade. Second I have no means to cut to size a lawnmower blade. No band saw, or angle grinder. If you noticed I am working with minimal equipment here ;)
 
SkogKniv said:
mmm lefse :thumbup:
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My dad used to make it growing up, you can't find it commercially in the pacific northwest without paying 15 bucks a pound, so I buy the goat milk and barley at the flea market on saturday mornings and spend that evening making lefse. Better trail fuel, there is none.
 
SkogKniv said:
If you noticed I am working with minimal equipment here
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I hear you, but don't let the lack of power tools determine the outcome of your efforts. A hacksaw and an assortment of files will do a lot of work in determined hands. You obviously have the talent. :thumbup: Have you read the "$50.00 Knife Shop" by Wayne Goddard? By the way, nice to see there are other "square heads" on the board!
 
x39 said:
I hear you, but don't let the lack of power tools determine the outcome of your efforts. A hacksaw and an assortment of files will do a lot of work in determined hands. You obviously have the talent. :thumbup: Have you read the "$50.00 Knife Shop" by Wayne Goddard? By the way, nice to see there are other "square heads" on the board!
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I hear you on that, and I was doing that before those power tools. BUT haha hack sawing out a strip of steel from a lawnmower blade would be insane hahaha.
 
As always, gorgeous work SkogKniv!

Makes me want to make something, but I haven't those kinds of talents so I think it'll be a sandwich tonight.
 
Great work Skogkniv!!! That is a large crook knife. Now ya just need to get some better steel and make another blade.
 
I love using Starrett ground O1 for my random knife projects. Enco and Reid have the stuff in stock at what I'd consider great prices for ground tool steel. Grinding, milling, and drilling are not vastly more difficult than 1008 and it is very stable and forgiving stuff. Research heat treating on here, it can be done with a $15 butane torch, some bricks, and a bucket of used hot motor oil.
 
SkogKniv said:
BUT haha hack sawing out a strip of steel from a lawnmower blade would be insane hahaha.
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I've done it. The trick is to anneal the steel first, which can be accomlished in a charcoal grill. Once annealed the material isn't much tougher than the mild steel you were working with.
 
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