How long to forge and finish a knife???

S

swissdagger

Joined
Feb 2, 2002
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115
I have always wondered how long does it take to forge and finish a knife (lets say a Bowie).
I mean from the real beginning (without design) to the very end with everything polished and handle fixed in place.
Guard also handmade. Handle wood or stag.
I don't talk about damascus steel. Just some straight carbon steel.

I know the timeframe can vary extremly due to embellishments.

Just imagine a "simple" traditional carbon steel Bowie with a good wood or stag handle without embellishments such as filework or else....

THANKS!
 
Forging the blade is the fun part for me. It Takes me about 30-60 minutes to forge. Then two years to finish the knife.


Mark
 
Originally posted by Gouge
Forging the blade is the fun part for me. It Takes me about 30-60 minutes to forge. Then two years to finish the knife.


Mark
Click to expand...

Yep, me too.
 
OK. For me, a plain Jane, hidden tang 4-inch drop point hunter takes about 20 to 25 hours total "cockpit time". That is forging, grinding, HT, tempering, cleanup, etc. Just the fit and finish of the guard can take quite a bit of time. It is not one continuous process. I may forge a few blades one day and then work on them one at a time over the next week(s).

Craig
 
WOW Bruce! Heck, it takes me that long just to take a digital picture of a knife! :D

Let's see what can I do in 45 mins???
1. Get the grinder set up changed.....
2. figure out where I left my truck keys..
3. Decide which handle material to put on a hunter.....

Seriously though.... a simple bowie, from start to finish will take me approx. 25 hours of HANDS ON time. That does not count the time consumed for thermal cycles and heat treatment.
 
I'm a little slower....more like 40 hours for a large Bowie:o

I haven't said this for a long time but now you have a whole new view of these guys that build knives for a living. Gotta admire them cause they sure aren't overpaid!
 
Dang the times are out,, now I got to start charging a couple
hundered more for mine.:) :) :)
 
hahah Bruce, I was gonna say, cuz I remember you quoting something like 200+ for some of your art knives(pistol folder, think it was), and obviously those have a lot more work in some aspects, I didn't think it would be that much of a difference in time. :)
 
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