Good Folder Book

J. Neilson

J. Neilson

Joined
Feb 6, 2001
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I'm looking for a good book for someone starting to make folders. I haven't made the jump yet but, my toes are wiggling over the edge of the cliff. I'm only looking to make a few here and there but, I'd like to make a variety.
 
J, I don't know what kind of folders you want to make, but I bought
The Tactical Folding Knife: A Study of the Anatomy and Construction of the Liner-Locked Folder by Bob Terzuola It is a pretty good book on Liner-locked folders, and gave good details on the geometry of the lock and and most of the problems that can go wrong with that type of locking system. I still haven't made one yet, I'm gonna concentrate on fixed blades for right now. I also bought Peter Atwoods video on Linear-locks and It was pretty good seeing how the lock was cut, and actually seeing the process, Another book I bought was Custom Knifemaking By Tim McCreight. I think it is mainly for beginners has a lot of heat treating stuff ect but I does show the workings of several folding knife designs except for Liner-Lock.
Hope that helps. It was also nice meeting you at the Columbus show.
 
Thanks Will. I'm leaning more towards small, traditional styles...slip joints and maybe some lock backs but, I'd eventually like to give the liner locks a whirl, too. Just getting the time to play around with it is the trouble.
 
If your interested in lockbacks, then you should take a look at "how to make folding knives" by Ron Lake, Frank Centofante, and Wayne Clay.

Its a pretty good book, lots of good pictures and they give you patterns to start with for a knife from each.
Personally I read the book a few times, ruined a about a foot and a half of ATS 34 trying to cut the locks by hand with a file, and then gave up and moved on to trial and error on linerlocks (got it on my first try....then screwed up the next few attempts horribly :D )
 
J. I have the How to make folding knives book mentioned by Matt.

Although some day I would like to make lockbacks it isn't going to be any time soon, so if you would like to take a gander at this book I'll send my copy to you. I would eventually like it back but won't need it for a long time yet, like maybe next summer or fall but definitely not now.

Send me an email if you want me to send it to you.

Sean
 
J. Neilson said:
I'm looking for a good book for someone starting to make folders. I haven't made the jump yet but, my toes are wiggling over the edge of the cliff. I'm only looking to make a few here and there but, I'd like to make a variety.
Click to expand...

J., you're too far advanced to begin your folders with a beginner's book.

My advise is to skip the slipjoints and lockbacks and go directly to a linerlock folder. That's where you'll eventually wind up anyway, probably.

I offer my detailed instuction book "My Way" on my web site. With your existing skills and equipment, your first folder will be a howling success if you start with this book. Get the right materials, prepare your blade blank, then open this book on your work bench and follow it step by detailed step all the way thru.

Pictures on each
page show every step being done, and the text is a detailed explanation.

Click on the URL below my name here, and browse thru the pages on the web site. Be sure to see some of my customer's knives on the "Customer's Knives" page.

A fully detailed CAD design for a linerlock or framelock is included in the price of the book.

Try it, you'll like it!!

:D
 
J.
Personally, I'd love to see you make some traditional pattern slip joints and lock-backs. IMHO, your work is well suited to these types of knives.
 
Thanks for all the tips guys. The tutorials look great and Tess just told me she was planning on buying the "How to..." book for my birthday (thanks for the offered loan Sean, I appreciate it). Your "my way" looks pretty cool, too Don. I'm sure I'll be getting that as well. I'm gonna start with the slips and backs and I'm sure I'll get to liners eventually too. As I said before though, this folder thing is only going to be an occasional thing for me (I love big knives too much) so it will probably be awhile before they are any good but, I'll post what I can put together. Thanks again to all for you tips and anymore that may pop up.
 
Since we don't hear from him much these days it's easy to overlook Chris Crawford's slip joint tutorial. I haven't yet felt compelled to make a folder but if I were this is where I'd start.

Based on the work of his that I've seen, Don Robinson's book is very tempting for me as well.

Dang J, when are you going to give me a break?! I'm still trying to be like you were five years ago... Not that it's a race, just that everyone needs a carrot...and your stick keeps getting longer. :D

Hey, that's not what I meant and you know it!
 
Just a side-note J.

Liner-locks definitely have found a huge place in the market. In the overall scheme, they draw a lot of interest and money.

However, there is more precision required to make a lock-back work properly than the same in a liner-lock.

Personally, I like the elegance of a well made lock-back
Nick
 
Come on Dave, don't give me that guff. I was just grinding my first files five years ago. Your knives are stunning and you do alot of things that I haven't had the nerve to try yet. Can't wait to add one of your pieces to my collection someday.

Thanks for the tip Nick. It does seem like most everyone who makes folder does liner locks and I can understand that, it makes a great knife. I really just try to make (or am trying to make) good clean knives, nothing real fancy or anything and since I've been gravitating to more traditional styles this past year, I though the styles I grew up with would be a good place to start. I've heard that there is a demand for good clean slip joint folders but, who knows? I picked up a lockback kit at the last show to take a look at it, heck for $15.00 it'll answer some questions. I would have gotten a slip joint one to look at too but they were only 2 or more bladed versions and I never liked them. I'm a one blade per knife kinda guys. ;)
 
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