In the spirit of can do self suffecency, I ordered some D2

[hushnel]

I haven't made a knife in many years, I've built a bunch using blades by real knife makers. I like knives, like all of us, and figured to try my hand at it again.

I cut the first blade with a hacksaw, then a buddy's friend offered to cut them with a plasma cutter. I prefer the hacksaw, you can see in the linked slide show the results of each process, I'm sure I could do a better job than this guy and I know nothing about plasma cutters.

This album is my current projects, well two of my current projects I have others going on but not documented in this album.

Slideshow of knife project.

 

[Minnesota]

Pretty cool. I'd like to made a knife for myself one day. Is the D2 hard to work with?

 

[me2]

Depends on if its been hardened or not. If still soft, it shouldnt be too bad, but its still tougher than say 1095 when both are annealed.

I'd encourage everyone to try and make at least one knife. Bushcraft knives are fairly simple, and places like Texas Knifemakers Supply will do the heat treating, taking the most mysterious part out. They only do air hardening steels, so stick with A2, D2, ATS-34, 154CM, 440C, and a few others. That leaves the shaping and handle up to each person, which is good, since these are usually personal preference issues.

 

[hushnel]

I got the D2 from Texas Knifemakers Supply, it is annealed, with a new blade in the hacksaw, I cut the one out in about 40 minutes. I've grounded them with 36 grit Alumina Zirconia. When I get a chance I will finish them off and send back to Texas for heat treating.

I ordered this tang stamp in Oct. 1993 but it was so soon after Hurricane Andrew I just never got around to using it until today. Not a good picture but when they are finished I'll pull out the real camera and take a few good pictures.

These are the first knives I've made in a really long time, I've built a few using other's blades but this is the first bar steel I've hacked at since the early 90s.