First knife

C

Chabb

Joined
Jul 17, 2011
Messages
9
Hi All,
I've started on my first (real!) knife out of an old file, and would value some feedback on wether I'm on the
right track.
s0cVq.jpg

I've outlined it, and started grinding. My concern is that it's very thick (7mm), and so I suppose I'd have to
take some more off the blade, and probably taper the tang :confused:
After looking through some of the threads on this forum, I can see I'll have to clean up those plunge lines, and I'm not sure how the point is meant to be ground. I've been curving it up at the tip so that the the grinding
wheel was always perpendicular to the edge. is this wrong? was I meant to keep the grind straight all along?
Any tips would be much appreciated.
Thanks,

Chabb
 
Chabb said:
Hi All,
I've started on my first (real!) knife out of an old file, and would value some feedback on wether I'm on the right track.
I've outlined it, and started grinding...

Chabb
Click to expand...

Yea, take a piece of steel and remove whatever doesn't look like a knife. That's what you're doing. You're right on track. Not that there isn't room for a wee bit of improvement ;-)

Did you anneal the file before you started working on it? If not you'd better think about doing it if you want to drill holes in the handle or use a file to make the bevels flat.

What are you grinding with, a belt grinder or stone wheel grinder? I rotate the blade also for the tip. If I don't then the tip looks weird to me. There are some Randall blades that look like they go straight across but I don't understand how that works.

What sort of plans do you have for heat treating it?

I think you've got a good start. keep it up.

- Paul Meske
 
Hi Lonepine, and thanks for your input,
I annealed the file before I did anything by sticking it in the fireplace until it turned orange, and left it in the ashes to cool.
I'm using a stone wheel grinder, not sure what diameter, but I think it's around 5".
I was hoping I could get some advice on advice on heat treating here. I'm not sure what the steel is, but it should be some kind of carbon steel, and not case hardened, as the file was quite old, and from a respectable file maker (PS Stubs)
From what I've gathered, the blade is hardened as hard as it'll go, then the spine is heated, and the oxidation colors closely monitored while they move up the blade, and stopped when the correct color reaches the edge by quenching.
How far from the truth is this? Also, are there any blaring flaws in the design which can be remedied?

Thanks,

Chabb
 
Looking good!
I'd make a hidden tang out of it. But that is just my personal prefrence.

What I have learned is that most (quality) files are W1 steel or something close.
There's info here on HT-ing file blades.

Something I haven't done myself yet but sounded like good advice:
Take a file, anneal it, then harden it's tang. Don't temper, hit it with a hammer.
If it snaps off it is likely a decent hardenable steel. If it bends it won't be a good knife.
 
Updates!
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I've cleaned it all up, straightened the plunge line, turned the hollow grind into a straight grind, thinned it down a bit, put some filework on, hardened it, and a friend of mine who does a bit of knife-making tempered it for me. Now all that needs to be done is to put a handle on it, which I will post updates on shortly.

Chabb
 
I forgot to mention, I put a scoop into the handle on each side to lighten the handle, and make it easier to fit the handle scales on. It's a bit messy, but it does the job.
 
Chabb said:
I forgot to mention, I put a scoop into the handle on each side to lighten the handle, and make it easier to fit the handle scales on. It's a bit messy, but it does the job.
Click to expand...

For future reference you can also drill out a number of holes in the handle area as well to accomplish the same thing with less mess. Another thing you can also do with having the holes drilled is you can (very shallowly) divot out the scales where those holes are and when you glue it, it will help add a bit more grip to the scales. Of course if you're using something like Corby rivets to attach the scales it's merely academic at that point. Overall though great looking knife.
 
And here it is finally!
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Rimu scales, peened brass pins, and boiled linseed oil finish.
 
Chabb, great effort ,nice handle treatment. It looks like you hade fun . Keep up the good work.
 
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