Easiest Grind?

LongRifle

LongRifle

Joined
Apr 5, 2000
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Which grind (tanto, drop point, etc.) would be the easiest for a beginer with minimal tools? I have been thinking about a simple chisle ground tanto that I would cord wrap. I was also planning on making the knife out of an old file, is there a more suitable steel for a beginer? Thanks for all your tips and advice!
Matthew
 
I would think that a drop point would be easier. How you do your heat treat will determine what steel you use. Would recomend sending steel out to be heat treated. Using a old file to make a knife out of is a lot of work using hand tools unless you anneal it first, but then you would have to it harded again.
If it was my first knife I would use ats-34 or 440-c from a knife supply house and have Paul Bos heat treat it.
 
Thanks for the suggestion, I think you are right about ordering some ats-34. I have three weeks off for Christmas break and I am going to use some of my Dad's tools. He has a few sanders and the like.
 
There are a couple ways to look at this. Stainless is not the easiest stuff in the world to work with. It's tough on saws and files. I've not used anything else, but that doesn't mean anything. I started with some machines. Tool steel is a lot easier to use.

Here is maybe the best tutorial I've ever read on getting started in knifemaking. It's written by Scott Jones (Jonesy) and includes a lot of pix. The only thing I might change from what he did is to buy some 1/8 or 3/16" tool steel, like 1084 or 1095 from one of the knifemaking supply houses, insteading of wrestling with the heavier 5160 he used. Otherwise, you'll learn a lot here.

http://www.knifeforums.com/ubbthrea...er=2107&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=0&fpart=

Good luck.
 
Jerry,
You sure ordering 1084/1095 from the supply houses is a good idea for a newbie with files?
A lot of the 1084/1095 from the supply houses doesn't come annealed. Either that or it isn't fully annealed. I spent in excess of two hours drilling and filing a slot for a guard I made out of 1084, and I was using almost brand new Nicholson files. The 1084 also ate my drill bits. The outside part of the steel drilled easy, but the minute it got into the inside area, the drill would just spin, make the loudest shrieking noise you ever heard, and burn oil. Unless he can anneal the steel, it may actually be better off for him to order a piece of 440C from the supply houses. I've filed bevels on 3/16 thick 440C before, it's not too hard, and it drills like butter compared to some of the hot rolled carbon steels I've tried.
 
If its not annealed, you can anneal it yourself. Its not THAT difficult, even I can do it!

C Wilkins
 
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