First knives

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sunstroke

Joined
Jan 29, 2026
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Well, first that I'm willing to show in public... :)

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I've been watching Walter Sorrells' videos for a few years and finally decided to dive in about 6 weeks ago. The one on the right is 1084 with oak and walnut handle scales and on the left is 80CrV2 with epoxy scales that I made and dyed with a powdered pigment. I'm hoping friends and family will appreciate receiving gifts that aren't another wooden bowl or charcuterie board. Loving this new hobby so far and am planning many more.

Thanks for looking.
 
sunstroke said:
Well, first that I'm willing to show in public... :)

20260312_170456-XL.jpg


I've been watching Walter Sorrells' videos for a few years and finally decided to dive in about 6 weeks ago. The one on the right is 1084 with oak and walnut handle scales and on the left is 80CrV2 with epoxy scales that I made and dyed with a powdered pigment. I'm hoping friends and family will appreciate receiving gifts that aren't another wooden bowl or charcuterie board. Loving this new hobby so far and am planning many more.

Thanks for looking.
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Looking good...👌👌👌......

I'd like.to see some earlier. Renditions though😉.....

Keep up the good work...... You'll get lots of good suggestions from the makers hereabouts....👍
 
jfk1110 said:
Looking good...👌👌👌......

I'd like.to see some earlier. Renditions though😉.....

Keep up the good work...... You'll get lots of good suggestions from the makers hereabouts....👍
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Here's one I did before I found a heat treat service that I wanted to use. I was careful not to overheat during grinding, then discovered that I don't own a drill bit that would even leave a mark on it - thus no pins in the handle. I made this one for my brother-in-law. The file belonged to his dad. I found in his old workshop when we moved back to the property. The walnut is from a tree that his dad planted many years ago. I milled the log on my saw mill a couple of years back and it's been drying since then. BIL's birthday is coming up so he has not seen this yet. Hope he's not on the forum... :)

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sunstroke said:
Here's one I did before I found a heat treat service that I wanted to use. I was careful not to overheat during grinding, then discovered that I don't own a drill bit that would even leave a mark on it - thus no pins in the handle. I made this one for my brother-in-law. The file belonged to his dad. I found in his old workshop when we moved back to the property. The walnut is from a tree that his dad planted many years ago. I milled the log on my saw mill a couple of years back and it's been drying since then. BIL's birthday is coming up so he has not seen this yet. Hope he's not on the forum... :)

20260313_084412-X2.jpg
Click to expand...

Great job....... He'll love.it,.I'm sure...👌 Cause I do...😉.....Best of luck with your endeavors.... Please do keep sharing your work!!!!👍
 
Thanks to all for the encouragement! I'm currently waiting for the next batch to return from heat treat. Here's a chef knife I finished while waiting. It's .10" thick AEB-L stainless, 61 HRC, 7" blade and about 11.5" overall length with a red micarta handle. The shape was inspired by the Meat Church knife by Montana Knife Company.

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You’re on the right path! But…. You’re doing what we all have done, you’re getting excited to finish it and missing some of the little things!! They’re very nice for just starting and this is just the same advice I got when starting and helped me out tremendously!! Make sure ya get all previous scratches out before moving to the next grit. The finger groove is a little honky wonky and there’s some kinda dark mark on the tang in that area. The white spots on the handle are probably from not getting the previous scratches out or slightly burnt it. It took me FOREVER to realize how important lighting is, different lighting at different angles will totally surprise you with the stuff you miss. Hell I still miss things and don’t forget about the best light…. Outside sunlight! Be your own worst critic!
 
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NickBoyle said:
You’re on the right path! But…. You’re doing what we all have done, you’re getting excited to finish it and missing some of the little things!! They’re very nice for just starting and this is just the same advice I got when starting and helped me out tremendously!! Make sure ya get all previous scratches out before moving to the next grit. The finger groove is a little honky wonky and there’s some kinda dark mark on the tang in that area. The white spots on the handle are probably from not getting the previous scratches out or slightly burnt it. It took me FOREVER to realize how important lighting is, different lighting at different angles will totally surprise you with the stuff you miss. Hell I still miss things and don’t forget about the best light…. Outside sunlight! Be your own worst critic!
Click to expand...
Thank you for the critique. (That dark spot was a bit of dirt that wiped off.) Whether I'm working with wood, metal or plastic, I can see perfection in my head but struggle to make it come out of my fingers. Everything I make is intended for gifts to friends and family so I probably tend to say "good enough" too quickly. Notice that I have not shared any of my leather work. There's a reason... :)

I'm doing this just because I enjoy it and love learning new stuff. Since retiring I have gotten into woodworking, wood carving, saw-milling, picture framing, wood turning, epoxy with wood, and most recently knife making, leather working for sheaths, and epoxy for knife handle scales. I had little to no experience with any of those during my career but I find myself busier now than I ever was while working, and having way more fun.
 
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