First knife (Success!)

[Robert_Phelps]

I just finished my first knife. (really though, I'll call the first carefully shaped and handled knife I make my first.)

The little tang on it was made to match a Nicholson file's, so it could fit in the file handle. (a quick and easy handle for a quick, rough knife meant as a test to see if I could heat treat/quench/temper correctly)
It shaved a large bald spot on my arm (oops) and then passed the brass rod test.

...don't know why the blade looks so dark and discolored.. it's not that way in normal light.
Thank you for all your help

 

[Dakota 11]

looks like a chisel?

 

[Robert_Phelps]

Well, it was just a rectangular scrap of 1095 that I hacksawed the little tang into, then beveled.

I didn't need to spend potentially wasted time making a nice knife shape to test heat treating/etc... I just wanted an edge, really.

 

[MSCantrell]

Well, I'm proud of ya, amigo. Shaving arm hair and passing brass rod test on the first try? I say you're on your way.

Next comes shaping. Then 1200-grit finishing. Then guards. Then damascus. Pulling your hair out, cussing, showing everybody you know when it works right, crying when it doesn't...

Just keep posting and reading and soon you'll be asking "should I quit my job and go full-time into knifemaking?"


Seriously, though, looks like you did a great job accomplishing exactly what you set out to do.

Mike

 

[Shawn fu]

just started making knives myself,made my first one out of a rusty old cold chisel-it miraculously passed all the tests-it may be ugly,but it holds an edge well.now i'm hopelessly addicted and I'm on my fifth knife and I'm learning more with each try.the people in this forum have been a huge help-don't be afraid to ask questions-people seem very willing to help.seems like you're on the right track(not that i'm an expert or anything)keep up the good work.
shawn

 

[Robert_Phelps]

Hey, the sun came out?

Anyway, I've been finishing up this, a grafting knife (for woody plant cuttings):
(Yes, it's only supposed to be sharpened on one side, I didn't forget a bevel )

I can't get right along the edge right.. I don't know if it was a mistake I made sharpening it with my diamond stone (making sure it was an ok knife before all that polishing) I'm going to leave it as is though, since it's meant for pretty hard use anyway.
...Also, someone please tell me there's a way to drill a pin hole if the steel might've gotten a bit hard where it needs to go? :|

 

[mdoyle]

For a pin hole try a carbide cutter bit for your dremel. Works well even on hardened steel.
Matt Doyle

 

[Will52100]

Cool. If it's 1095 or other low alloy carbon steel just hold the blade in a bucket of water with some vise grips or somesuch and heat the tang area to a dark blue, maybe a little higher, let it cool a bit then dunk the rest of the knife. Should be able to drill with good bits like cobalt or Ti coated, and no wories about lossing the temper on the blade.