how long does it take u guys?

BadKarma05

BadKarma05

Joined
Feb 19, 2006
Messages
554
i know this is gonna make me look very stupid, but after spending some time trying to figure out what all this knifemaking is about, i really dont know how much time goes into one of these things. now obviously i know that there is no standard time, but say your average EDC fixed blade with not to much fine detail?
 
Don't let time get in the way cause thats 99% of what a knife is. Sure they will take longer at first but they do get faster with the more you know. Then there's a few that will fight you all the way.
 
It take as long as it takes.
That isn't a flippant answer.A knife may take only hours,and it may take years.It is done when you put the final edge on it.I have ones sitting in work boxes that I haven't finished yet after several years.The amount of time it takes is not important (except to a full time maker).
It is the application of the best skill you currently have ,to the best materials available to you ,that will turn out the best knife you can make.
 
BadKarma,

Search for a post by Jason Cutter called "60 Minute Knife"!:D

Every other maker here, at least the all full-time guys, can do it AT LEAST that fast. They're just being modest when they say it takes years. Usually about 45 minutes is what I hear for something with nothing too special, like just a recurve blade, heat-colored guard, some basic filework and only one or two spacers in the handle.

Then again, it might take an hour or even two (:eek: )if they've got to make a damascus billet first.
:p
:p
:p
I'm completely joking, of course. I'm almost as green as yourself, but I've come a little ways along and got a few knives complete. The first was just files, hacksaw, drill and sandpaper. A LOT of hours. Maybe 30 or 40? I wasn't really keeping track. And it looked pretty bad when I was finished (still looks bad, it's my workbench knife now).

The next one, a little quicker.

Then I got some better files and a disc sanding attachment for my drill, that sped it up. Now I got a palm sander and put a hard face on it (shoestring budget is the theme here), and that's taking some hours off, too.

So, better tools and more practice mean less time. Often, so does a smaller blade. Less complex, ditto.

In $50 Knife Shop Wayne Goddard casually throws out there, "If it takes you 4 hours to make a knife, then charge $320 for it". Maybe I'm off base here, but that gave me the impression it takes him about 4 hours each?

To sum up: listen to what the other guys said :D

Mike
 
Its like Ray and Bladsmth said, I take 1 knife at a time and however much time it takes. Its just that simple for me, if you start putting time limits on your work, your work will suffer, and then your business will be gone.

Have fun and be safe,

Bill
 
After two years collectively forging knives I am taking longer and longer to forge out a blade so there will be less grinding. It would be down right embarrasing to actually admit how long my average knife takes to forge. At the longest end of the scale I spent three two hour sessions on one knife. Last week I stock removed a small frontiersman folder in ten minutes. So if I averaged those two knives together you would get 3 hrs and five minutes. All of that does count towards total finishing time. If I actually kept track of the exact time it took to finish one I would probably find another hobby/business.
 
MSCantrell said:
BadKarma,

Search for a post by Jason Cutter called "60 Minute Knife"!:D
...Mike
Click to expand...
I liked that post because it has some very good info and photos of the knife making process. Jason kindly let me put it on a web page:) : "The 60 Minute Knife"
Regards,
Greg
 
For me a fixed blade, start to finish, I spend around 8-10 hours with no sheath (haven't started doing those yet). Of course I haven't made that many nor is it a profession. And that is forging with the finish mostly by hand (files, sandpaper, coping saw etc). My first few took maybe 2X that so I'm getting faster. That is just time working on it, not letting finishes dry etc, just a close approximation of manhours spent.
 
Bowiemaker said:
It all depends on the mood your wife's in!
Click to expand...

I'm glad I'm not the only one! That is the number one factor affecting my production of knives!

Seriously though I estimate that I put 10-15 hours into most knives. It's hard to know when you have to do it in little chunks. Sometimes I go downstairs to get something for my wife, and mysteriously I find myself standing at the grinder! That usually lasts all of 5 minutes, then I'm in big trouble.
 
lots of great information u guys are throwing at me! it really helps put a prespective on things. many of u guys are simply INCREDIBLE craftsmen, and while it may not take days and days to make a simple knife i do understand tat years of practice and wisdom is also put into these works of art! thanks for all the input!
 
I always estimate about 15 hrs of work. I can cut into that by making about 4 or 5 at a time. I usually get 4 a month done but I work about 11 to 13 hrs a week I think. Practice also makes speed but not much :)
 
naturally, your peices are some of my favorites mr. goode, i just wish u could put them out faster!
 
Thanks for the thumbs up! If my damn day job and family wasnt in the way...........just kidding :) I try to remember that I got into this because I enjoy it. When the knifemaking takes away from me enjoying my life it wouldnt be worth it. Right now the way I schedule it, it is a joy and a stress reliever at the same time. Trust me..........one a week is hard to pull off :)

You can buy some premade blanks and put the handles on. You could even modify the premade blanks and they would look totally custom if you wanted. I have read some guys get into it that way. Whatever you do, remember, no knife is perfect and have fun with it. See mistakes as learning instead of failures. One mistake NOW is one you can prevent down the road :)
 
Always remember that; if anyone gets a hint of you having any free time, they're gonna try and fill it for you. I've been at this for almost 25 yrs and I still feel like I gotta hide from people before they come up with a "great idea" to keep you from making or completing a knife. If you have limited time,use it wisely.
 
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