First Knife Done - Critique Away

Jesse Smith

Jesse Smith

Joined
Dec 2, 2013
Messages
163
First, let me say that the "KnifeMaker / Craftsman / Service Provider" next below my name is terribly embarrassing. I hope it to be true some day, but right now I just wanted to make sure I didn't get in trouble for posting pics of my own knife, not that it's for sale or that anyone would actually want to buy it. I'm pretty sure prettier knives have been made in prison. LOL. But, It's what it is, my first ever knife, and I made it myself with nothing but stuff I had in my shop already and from piecing together the process from lurking on sites like this.

It's a Nicholson file, with mahogany scales, and Corby rivets (OK, I guess I actually bought those).

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I wanted a pommel because every knife I own ends up being used as a hammer. So I welded an extra chunk of file on to the end. That worked out OK for what it is, a rustic, backwoods file knife, but I didn't get it quite square with the tang, and the welding left some ugly pitting/voids. I had intended to make the knife prettier, but the longer I worked on it the more I felt I needed to treat it as a practice knife to go through the process and not waste too much time on it. I started it at the end of last winter and just finished it the last couple days.

Well, thoughts?
 
Oh yeah, sticking with the rustic theme, the file was annealed in the coals of my wood stove, and heat treated with my weed burner. :)
 
I would shape the handle to a more round shape. But other than that it looks ok
 
i like it, but my only critique is something that can still be fixed. round the handle more you will thank us after using it and you have blisters on your hands. wrap the blade in a paper towel and then masking tape then clamp the blade to something riggid so you can take strippes of sand paper and round the back and then flip the blade over and round the front then reseal or finish it.
 
I agree with what has already been said. Take some more time profiling the handle and you will be much happier!
 
Great knife. Search this site for Nick Wheeler's comments on shaping his handles. It helped me a ton when I put the scales on my mules.

Best,
 
Also you should shape the handle to the spine on the front, that's more cosmetic than an issue of functionality-calvin
 
Nice file knife! Better than others I've seen. And agreed - round out the handle. When do we see the next one? =)
 
Looks good bro! Better than my first knife! I was so obsessed with getting the heat treat right that my fit and finish were horrible. But its made of steel and still holds an edge and at the end of the day that's what counts!
 
Coming from someone who hasn't made a blade yet. I've only made handles for blanks. I like the file blades and will probably attempt one for my first knife also. I like your blade but agree , I would prefer a rounded handle. Did you use hand tools to form your blade? I will probably use hand tools.
 
Nothing wrong with it, adding a pommel on your first knife makes it more than a simple knife, a good effort for your first.
 
roach56 said:
Did you use hand tools to form your blade? I will probably use hand tools.
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Yes. I softened/annealed the file in my wood stove (got it beyond magnetic, then left it in the coals overnight). Then cut it as close to the shape I wanted with a hand held Port-a-band saw. Finished the profile with a bench grinder, and a file. Then I cut the bevel with a file and cleaned it up with sand paper. Turns out I should have softened/annealed it again after welding on the piece for the pommel, because that hardened it to the point that I had a hard time drilling the hole for the rear pin, and the file I was using wanted to glance off the handle rather than cutting, when I was trying to clean stuff up.
 
One of the now-deceased old gents at my deer camp had a file knife similar looking to your's made by his Montana blacksmith/rancher dad back in the 1930s. His had a brass guard and elk antler (or was it cow horn?) scales. The temper on his was such that it was overly hard but boy old Dave sure could split hairs with it and carve up a deer in a jiffy. To me the rustic file pattern marks gave it real homespun character and I'd have given my eye teeth to get hold of that knife when he passed away. Thanks for showing us your unique piece.
I'm curious about the pommel. I've never had the gumption to use a good knife as a striking tool. Sorta reminds me of the hokey Westerns where the Sheriff tacks up wanted posters using the butt of his Colt. Your average guy would cry if someone told him to do that with a gun.

By the way; now that I'm semi-retired and pursuing whatever interests me is there a good reference somewhere on how a fellow like me could attempt such a thing? My greatest concern is achieving correct temper of the blade once it's all shaped, ground, filed and drilled.
 
300Six said:
I'm curious about the pommel. I've never had the gumption to use a good knife as a striking tool. Sorta reminds me of the hokey Westerns where the Sheriff tacks up wanted posters using the butt of his Colt. Your average guy would cry if someone told him to do that with a gun.
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I don't mean actually pounding nails with it, but when I'm out doing chores and the latch on the chicken house is stuck, the first thing I do is reach for my Buck 110 and use it to hammer the latch open. Just that sort of thing. Knives are tools. I try not to abuse them, but I will you them for what I need at the time. On the other hand, I'd have a fit if I had to use one of my guns for something like that.

300Six said:
By the way; now that I'm semi-retired and pursuing whatever interests me is there a good reference somewhere on how a fellow like me could attempt such a thing? My greatest concern is achieving correct temper of the blade once it's all shaped, ground, filed and drilled.
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I don't remember where I came up with the process, just pieced it together with a bunch of Googling. Check out this guy's youtube channel... http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd7FxNzQrmBV2Jd_l9NWeEw He has some great how to videos for making some gorgeous file knives.
 
As an aspiring knife maker myself (still working on my first), I think it looks nice! My project has a choil (sp?)...someone said it makes sharpening it easier. Now, as a corrections officer, I haven't seen a prison-made knife nearly as nice in 15 years!
 
RedTayl said:
Now, as a corrections officer, I haven't seen a prison-made knife nearly as nice in 15 years!
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High praise there! :D

Blade shape is good, and others have offered insight to reshaping the handle. when you get it done, post it back up!
 
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