First finished knife!! ......kinda

Justin Schmidt

Justin Schmidt

Joined
Feb 18, 2016
Messages
2,209
Alright gents I've asked alot of questions and probably got on some nerves but I've completed my first "knife" it's just mild steel so technically not a knife but I put some work in this. It's 6in long and hand sanded to 220gr advice and criticism welcomed! And I know I need to just get it done on some real steel but I just can't afford it right now. Hopefully next month and some real handle material!



 
Looks good for a first one.

Carbon steel is all around you. Plenty of ways to get enough for a knife for free. Saw blades, leaf springs, lawnmower blades. Look for a dump/scrapyard in your area and they are guaranteed to have something with carbon in it. You could get a foot of carbon steel for less than the cost of lunch, and when I am working on a knife I usually forget to eat lunch anyways .
 
Good 1st!
My big recomemdations is to read the stickies at the top of the page, lots of good info there. Also, go to the exchange section on this forum and look at other people's knives...that will help you get a feel for design, what looks and feels good...as well as what performs. Your tip also looks like you-what's the term in looking for- rolled over on the grinder...hope that makes sense
And unless you REALLY know how to cord wrap, I'd recommend doing a solid wood/synthetic handle. That is somewhat biased, I hate most cord wraps, but until you know how to make it secure and look right, if stay away from it.

Keep at it!! Feel free to post any design questions on this forum before you actually make the knife...it will shorten your learning curve a lot!
 
Thanks guys. The paracord wrap was just something to throw on their because I don't have any handle material. I'd love to get some nice wood or plain black mircata
 
I can appreciate being poor, I'm a full time time knife maker after all... but a good sized piece of 1080 from AKS is $4, that's like 2 things of ramen noodles. Honestly, versus the time is will take to grind down, anneal, straighten, etc, $4 is a way better deal than using recycled materials.
 
pwheeler said:
I can appreciate being poor, I'm a full time time knife maker after all... but a good sized piece of 1080 from AKS is $4, that's like 2 things of ramen noodles. Honestly, versus the time is will take to grind down, anneal, straighten, etc, $4 is a way better deal than using recycled materials.
Click to expand...

I agree and 4 bucks is cheap but they have a minimal order amount plus shipping so that $4 piece of steel can turn to 20 bucks with a quickness
 
It looks great! FWIW Usaknifemaker has no minimum order, you can get an 1/8"x1"x12" chunk of 1080 for around $8 after shipping.
 
I'm confused, just a few months ago you posted 2 knives you where working on that where 1095. What happened to them, and now your using mild steel?
 
It was a 12 in piece I cut up into 2 6in pieces. Was just using files and it sucked so I went back to the drawing board kinda thing. I'm really not a fan of making these smaller knives honestly
 
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