First Knife and Sheath: The Experiment

ALLHSS said:
I have been bitten by the knife making bug, and finally started and actually finished a knife today. I used junk yard (but what I think is acceptable) steel, the tools that my family and my girlfriend's family had around, and a home made forge. I plan on drilling holes in the handle for a paracord wrap. I also may sand off the oxidization (I think that's what the black stuff is). I know that it was past magnetic and it seemed to harden well. However, I believe I over heated it on the second temper as there was the signature rainbow coloration that I take it to mean it was over heated. Also, the edge seems to dull away from razor almost immediately (which I guess may be from the temper). Basically, I'd like comments on design etc. but mostly tips on the hardening and tempering process. I understand that without knowing the steel it's difficult to give accurate and precise advice, but I would greatly appreciate any suggestions, tips, and help.
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The knife here looks and probably is a crude knife. All knife makers start some were though. I'm not a knife maker and I'm not a big time collector. But I have lived with a custom knife maker for the past eight years and have looked at and handled thousands of custom knives. ( And I do own a few custom knives.)

You have a long way to go.....
The secret to knife making is TIME.
Suggestion - Go and spend time in Shop Talk here on the forums. DON'T post and ask questions - Just look at the stickies at top of page and read. And when your done? Read some more.....
Good luck with your knife making Carrier - it can be the hardest thing you will ever do.
But it also can be one of the most rewarding things you MAY ever do?
It's up to you. :thumbup::)

Welcome to Bladeforums glad to have you here.

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The time comment is so true. Take your time and dont go to the next step wether it be the next grit of sanpaper or whatever till your 150% sure that the step your on is the absolute best you can do!
 
Can you cut anything with it ?
I bet not.

What leads you to believe that it was appropriate knife steel, what what the item originally ?
I'd start with real knife steel.
It's dead cheap for 1084

You plan to drill holes for paracord after you have heat treated ?
If you have truely HT'ed it then you will need a special drill.
You do all you can pre heat treating.

Temper colours don't mean a damn thing, you can't use them to judge temperature.
oily fingertips or other residue can change the colouration

Why not do the bevels in a full height flat grind ?
Thin wins.
The axes I have have are several times thinner at the edge than that knife there

Other than that, most everything I'd tell you is here

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ng-and-forge-question?p=11839735#post11839735
 
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what was the experiment here? I think I must be missing something.
 
ALLHSS said:
Thank you for your advice and tips. I appreciate them, as I posted to get help.



Again, thanks for the info. I have looked a little at that link, and it looks great. Do you have any new tips taking into account my tools and materials?
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See the link The Absolute Cheapskate way of making knives

It's at the very top of that standard reply.



If you read the instructions Stacy wrote that are linked in the Shop Talk section you will see instructions to hand filing and hand sanding a knife.

If you read the tools section of my standard reply, you will see at least one photo of a filing jig that will help you do flat bevels.
From there, use your imagination, you can hose clamp a file onto a broomstick.

or search Shop Talk, there are many many examples of people doing their first with files and sandpaper.
 
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