"Gift" from mom

D

DrGrip

Joined
May 19, 2010
Messages
55
Sunday evening my mother presented me with a leather bag full of old tools.

She went on to say that the tools within the bag had belonged to her Great Uncle John and she wanted me to have them.

Well, Uncle John passed away in 1982, and Lord only knows how old the tools within the bag are.

Inside of the bag I found 7 files, a draw knife, 3 screwdrivers, a brace and bit, some old nails, and a nail apron with a phone number that starts with letters instead of numbers. It's been a while since the tools have been used.

ALL of the files are chipped and dull at best, and 1 is broken. My guess is that over the years the files have been banged around in the bag and sustained even more damage than the original owner put on them. The only one that is good is the 4 in hand that was in a pocket on the inside of the bag. I plan to use that one.

All of the files are Nicholson and since they are not really good to use for their intended purpose I'm thinking about making a couple of knives from them for the family members that are left.

I'm currently annealing one of the files now to see how it goes and plan to start the blade tomorrow.

I'm not a big fan of file knives, but these critters seem to beg for it...

Charlie
 
I have been told the older files make way better knives than the new ones, do not know how much truth is in that?? I am sure someone on here does know for sure.
 
Not a big fan of file knives myself,but those mean something and will to the members of your family hopefully for years to come.
Stan
 
NOT a big fan here myself, but a couple of the uncle's will appreciate them I hope...

I too have heard that the older files are good for blades, but one never knows for sure.

Either way, I think it's better than tossing them into the scrap metal barrel...

We shall see...

The main file for the blade is annealed and the smaller file for the guard is as well. Pics starting tomorrow if anyone is interested.

Charlie
 
I like the idea of using your grandfathers files for knives for the family.
I do like knives out of files.

I've annealed a few files by leaving them in the fireplace overnight.
Some stayed straight, others need straightening
 
This week, I ground a small knife out of a heller cutco file but did not anneal it first, so I would not have to try to heat treat it. I kept it cool and it did not discolor at all, so I am using it for anything I can with the exception of food. I put a coat of Ren. Wax on it to keep it looking shiny. I am considering tempering it in a toaster oven, but have not decided to do that yet.
 
Files are a bit harder then knives, and thus a bit more brittle.
Annealing it shout give you a tougher knife
 
My Dad tells the story of when he made a knife from a file when he was in his teens. He didn't anneal it and he used a hand grinder. Going at it a little at a time and over the course of a year he completed it. He gave it a very "professional" handle made up of an entire role of friction tape. He successfully used it to gut and skin a deer. Unfortunately he has no idea what happened to it.

LonePine
AKA Paul Meske, Wisconsin
 
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