Long time listener, first time caller. But seriously, did a lot of reading and researching here and owe a lot of you guys some credit. From materials, to tools to techniques, I gleaned some great info from this site and have results I'm proud of because of it.
Anyway, decided out of the blue to make some knives as gifts for my groomsmen in my upcoming wedding. After looking through lots of pictures and handling everything I had on hand, I decided a bush-craft style fixed blade under 9" OAL would be appropriate. After reading lots of tutorials here, I came up with a few designs. Despite my best attempts ad drawing, transferring to cardboard and then scrap metal, I couldn't get my dimensions exactly right. I finally used a few templates close to designs on the forum (3 different designs) and went from there. I went for O1 tool steel and in retrospect, 1095 probably would have been a better choice. The O1 worked fine however. I ordered some 5/32" and 3/16" flat stock from jantz and traced on the patterns. I cut them out with an angle grinder, then ground to a 'close enough' state. I then used a belt/disc sander to finish off the profiles. Despite my desire for a high end grinder, I went with the $99 Craftsman 2x42. It had decent reviews and I didn't want to invest too heavily into this 'hobby' before I was sure I would stick with it. (Though I did the same with woodworking and wish I went the 'buy once, cry one' route as I enjoy it immensely) I drilled holes for pins (3/16 stainless) and lanyard holes (1/4" stainless tube). I then ground the bevels. Even with a jig, I found the bevels to be tricky to maintain symmetry; by far the most difficult step for me.
I sent the knives off for heat treating to a friend as he does it for a living. I knew my limitations with this step, especially working with O1. While they were out, I cut up the scales out of random hardwoods I got at woodcraft and another local wood working store. When I got the knives back, I cleaned them up, going to 400 grit on the blades and 80 on the handles. I left them rough for better adherence for the epoxy. I epoxied the scales on and then sanded the handle profiles. I also went to 400 grit on the handles and applied a couple coats of danish oil.
That's where I'm at now; still have to make the sheaths. They turned out decent for my first go-round I think. I ended up making 8, though I only have 3 groomsmen. One will go to my bro in Iraq since he can't make the wedding, another to my FIL and another to my friend who introduced me and my fiancee.
You can see they're all a bit different which I like. Lots learned during the process as well.
Criticism welcome and appreciated.
7 of the 8 blanks I cut.
Wood for scales
Grinding bevels
Back from heat treating with their respective scales
Test fit before epoxy
As they sit after a couple applications of danish oil.
Thanks again everyone. Great community here.
Anyway, decided out of the blue to make some knives as gifts for my groomsmen in my upcoming wedding. After looking through lots of pictures and handling everything I had on hand, I decided a bush-craft style fixed blade under 9" OAL would be appropriate. After reading lots of tutorials here, I came up with a few designs. Despite my best attempts ad drawing, transferring to cardboard and then scrap metal, I couldn't get my dimensions exactly right. I finally used a few templates close to designs on the forum (3 different designs) and went from there. I went for O1 tool steel and in retrospect, 1095 probably would have been a better choice. The O1 worked fine however. I ordered some 5/32" and 3/16" flat stock from jantz and traced on the patterns. I cut them out with an angle grinder, then ground to a 'close enough' state. I then used a belt/disc sander to finish off the profiles. Despite my desire for a high end grinder, I went with the $99 Craftsman 2x42. It had decent reviews and I didn't want to invest too heavily into this 'hobby' before I was sure I would stick with it. (Though I did the same with woodworking and wish I went the 'buy once, cry one' route as I enjoy it immensely) I drilled holes for pins (3/16 stainless) and lanyard holes (1/4" stainless tube). I then ground the bevels. Even with a jig, I found the bevels to be tricky to maintain symmetry; by far the most difficult step for me.
I sent the knives off for heat treating to a friend as he does it for a living. I knew my limitations with this step, especially working with O1. While they were out, I cut up the scales out of random hardwoods I got at woodcraft and another local wood working store. When I got the knives back, I cleaned them up, going to 400 grit on the blades and 80 on the handles. I left them rough for better adherence for the epoxy. I epoxied the scales on and then sanded the handle profiles. I also went to 400 grit on the handles and applied a couple coats of danish oil.
That's where I'm at now; still have to make the sheaths. They turned out decent for my first go-round I think. I ended up making 8, though I only have 3 groomsmen. One will go to my bro in Iraq since he can't make the wedding, another to my FIL and another to my friend who introduced me and my fiancee.
You can see they're all a bit different which I like. Lots learned during the process as well.
Criticism welcome and appreciated.
7 of the 8 blanks I cut.
Wood for scales
Grinding bevels
Back from heat treating with their respective scales
Test fit before epoxy
As they sit after a couple applications of danish oil.
Thanks again everyone. Great community here.
