Design for my first knife from 1084 steel

S

Steve Meyer

Joined
Apr 25, 2016
Messages
10
I'm sitting here planning out my first 1084 knife. I really don't want to waste metal on one that won't turn out well. I'm using a 4x36 belt grinder for fit and finish. then Ill clean up lines and tool marks by hand. Not real sure about the design I like it but something seems maybe off with it. Ill be finishing with a paracord handle.

It wasn't my first attempt, and I'm still not sure if I like the one off the metal better or not.

Decided to cut it out, but after seeing it I'm going with a more normal blade I think.

I believe I'll just give this a little curve on the bottom clean it up and go for it, instead of the pictured. The 3/16" steel feels nice though. Any opinions appreciated, Id like to make the most out of the metal and not end up with some funky, very nearly useless knife.
 
Last edited:
With your equipment and no experience, I would not make the recurve in the blade. Just have a straight edge.

3/16" steel is really thick. If it was a 10" blade chopper it would still be pretty thick. The thickest a normal knife ever needs to be is 1/8", and most makers who have made many knives, go thinner than that. Try 1/8" steel next time.

The pointed tip on the end of the handle should get rounded just a tad.
 
Thank you for the advice. the steel is really thick. My choices were limited to .187 or .156. I probably should have went with the .156, but I like a beefy knife. maybe to beefy though.
 
The recurve will be hard on such a wide belt sander. 1 inch or even 1/2 would be better. However if you really need to do it then use the portion where the belt is bent the most. The roll where it turns over fits into the recurve. However there you can't use the table which would allow for a consistant angle and you'll be doing it totally free hand. Also grinding on that roll can make your belt grinder vibrate which also isn't really good for your grind lines.
Again, it's possible but a pain :-D
Thicker steel than needed is normally bad but for a first knife it slows things down and gives you more opportunity and time to fix an error before your grinding reaches the edge and everything might be lost.

How do you plan on making the plunge lines?
 
was just going to grind them in. I'm considering setting up a file guide though at least for that part. I might get some of the .156 in 1 1/2" but even then its fairly thick. I'm not sure where else to get 1084 from though. I have time, since I decided to build a decent propane forge for HT instead of the brake drum forge I currently have.
 
711377295a1662dcf977e891f4e914f4.jpg

This blade was made from .187 1084 from Aldo. I would agree about avoiding the recurve on a wide belt.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Thats a nice looking knife. I like thicker bladed knives.
I went with this design, kinda plain and needs a bit more grinding even before bevels I think.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top