I made my first kit knife!!

R

RCC

Joined
Jun 27, 1999
Messages
172
Well its offical! I have made my first kit knife. We actually 2 kit knives & the third one has handles glued up!

I have been in & around knives for all my life. My family has been suppliers of stag, buffalo horn, damascus etc., for several decades now & I just finally decided to make a knife kit. One of the best decisions I have ever made. I kick myself for not doing it 10 years ago.

I know that I am going to get asked to take photos and post them in here, but I don't think I will. The knives look good and all, but they are not mine. I just did the assebley of them. I will defiantely be going through the stockman removal process & I promoise as soon as the first photo is taken, this will be the forum I am coming to!

Now please bear with me I am no where near the stature many of the makers in this forum so please help & critique my knives in future so that the quality will excel.

I want to thank all the folks in here who helped convince me to finally do it.

As well a special thanks to Ray "Bill" Cook of Duluth, GA who is my teacher in this whole process.

Oh, any ideas on how to stop the knifemaking bug? I find that I am constantly making sketches of future designs that I have in my mind.

Don't be surprized here in the near future when I start to ask people some questions, how to make liner locks, lock backs, flat grinding, hollow grinding & the rest of knifemaking details.

One question that I immediately have is, I am having trouble during my peining process. What my problem is that one side mushrooms out more than the other. Any suggestions?

Well thanks for all the support.

Ric C. Chopra
Universal Agencies, Inc. www.knifesupplies.com
 
Congratulations on your accomplishment!!! I started with a paring knife from jantz and slapped some Micarta on it, then a kit from House of Tools where I had to file the blade blank, and now I am grinding out blades from bar stock. The knife making bug is impossible to stop!

Can't help you on the peining thing. Last time I did that I busted the corner off of the handle!! I fixed it but you'd better get advice from someone else on that matter
smile.gif


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"Come What May..."
 
Ric, sounds like you're hittin the pin too hard. I used to bust stag and other handles alot till I started easing up on the hammer. The way that works for me best is to hold the hammer between my thumb and index finger.
I hold it loosely enough so that when it hits the pin it bounces.Basicly just letting the weight of the hammer hit the pin. Another tip is not to try to peen one side all at once. Peen each side just a little at a time and keep changing sides . If you take your time like this you can manipulate the pin to completely fill the countersink area.Polished, hardened surfaces help too.




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Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!
http://www.nebsnow.com/L6steel
Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms!!!
 
Crayola & L6, thanks for all the encouragement.

L6, I will be doing some piening work on Monday and will take those tips to the work bench.

Thanks for the tips.

Have a good weekend

Ric
 
Ric, what l-6 said don't hit hard, and use a small ball pein with a nice polish on the ball.
Also cut the pins square and a little chamfer helps.

I hit the pin first in the center and then work around the outside. Tap tap tap

For 1/16" pins I have a 3/8" ball bearing welded onto a handle.

took you ten years

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Sola Fide
 
I've had that trouble from leaving the pin a little too long also. You end up trying to peen to much and drive the pin back out the other side, then you have to peen even more down on that side. That would happen even more if you were hitting the pin to hard with a long pin.
I can't really tell you what the best length to leave the pin is because its different with different handle materials and pin sizes. With my really limited experience it seems like you want the pin to stick out as much on each side as its diameter. For example, on an 1/8" pin, you want no more than 1/8" of the pin to protrude from reach side before you peen it. But like I said that can vary with the type of material you are putting pins into and all that.
Good luck

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It'll feel better when it stops hurting.
 
Hey Ric, sounds like you've been bit by the knife making bug. It only gets better, old buddy. On the peining issue, L6 hit the pin right on the head. The only thing different I would recommend is to get a smaller hammer. I made one for myself when I first got started making knives out of 3/8" drill rod. It weighs about 3 ounces. Tap, tap, tap is the road to success. Bam, bam, bam will always lead to broken scales and cracked mushrooms.

My little ball pein has riveted many a knife. First, you want to use the flat head to flaten the pin out. Then, switch to the ball and finish up with that. Also, your backing should be very solid and polished. I use a bench block made of high carbon steel. It weighs about 5 lbs. If you want one of these, I can get them at a local store for $5.00 each. Also, I'd be happy to make you a ball pein like mine. It's fun and easy. Since you're just starting out, I'll donate the hammer and sell you the bench block for my cost plus shipping.

Man, you're in for the time of your life. Nothing like making knives. Especially at the forge. Hey, thanks for the great stag crown. It worked out great.

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M.Ogg

"It's better to be thought a fool and remain silent, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt"
 
Rick,
Congratulations on beginning your journey of frustration, burned, scuffed, cut and sore fingers....and a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.
Personally, I don't pein any pins in the handle. I have never had much luck in that area and just don't do it. There is a device that I have never used but I have heard some folks talk about a pin spinner that is supposed to work fairly well and accomplish the same thing.
 
Hey Guys:

Thanks for all the encouragement & tips when I get in to the shop tomorrow I am going to implement a few of the ideas. I have already printed out this thread so that I have a copy of it at the bench with me.

As for the "bug" I do not think there is a cure for it. Only one thing to do make more knives! I think you will all agree.

I hope to get in to folder kits as early as the next 2 weeks.

More than anything I cannot wait to get in to some stock removal.

Thanks,

Ric www.knifesupplies.com
 
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