folding knives

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knifemaking01

Joined
May 4, 2012
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139
hey folks, just a quick question,what usually the most used material when making folding knife blades?? and whats the optimum choice of steel thickness? also are there any good tutorials or books that are free or cheap, or must have on how to build slipjoints and liner lockers?
 
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3/32 CPM 154 or CM 154 is a good place to start. Buy precision ground and save yourself alot of trouble. There are several good tutorials online. Chris Crawford has a nice WIP, and there's also a couple of good ones on knifedogs.
 
Don Robinson in Texas has an excellent book on three types for a very reasonable amount. If you enter his name in the Knife Dogs, you will find him. Frank
 
thanks you 3 fellas you blokes are champs there was one area of designing the fixed blade i wasnt sure if i was designing right but i am, thanks a million
 
Try making a few balisong before you attempt a lockback. If you search under my screen name in the balisong forum here, I have done WIP threads of every bali I have made. I am on my 7th bali. My first is on passaround and the remainder all sold.
 
balisongs are illegal here in australia so i cant make them but your builds are great mate enjoyed reading them you done really well making those,

lockbacks dont seem to hard to make, i will use cad to get everything precise then will use some verniers as a make it to make sure my dimensions are within specification and heck if i mess up the first one then i will just bin it and make another its all the joy in learning,

I would love a balisong, and boy would i love to make one but nope definitely not worth the crap of getting caught with one, if i had one at my house not only will they confiscate it but i will also loose my gun licence too and rifles.....
 
When making a lock back or slippie, make a simple jig from a piece of aluminum, micarta, or steel plate to test fit things.

It should have the same holes as the liners, with the same size pins sticking out. Drop on a liner, the backspring and any other spine parts, then the blade. Test the position and fit of the blade and lock, adjusting as needed for proper locking and position open and closed. When the fit-up and rotation is right, then assemble the knife. If you don't do it on a jig, you end up disassembling the folder many times.
 
bladsmth said:
When making a lock back or slippie, make a simple jig from a piece of aluminum, micarta, or steel plate to test fit things.

It should have the same holes as the liners, with the same size pins sticking out. Drop on a liner, the backspring and any other spine parts, then the blade. Test the position and fit of the blade and lock, adjusting as needed for proper locking and position open and closed. When the fit-up and rotation is right, then assemble the knife. If you don't do it on a jig, you end up disassembling the folder many times.
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top advice stacy thanks mate im guessing you saved me hours of disassembling and cursing haha thanks appreciate explaining it too
 
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