Is a forge essential?

Disco Stu

Disco Stu

Joined
Nov 9, 1999
Messages
1,137
I'd like to start making some of my own knives but don't much know where to start. I (or rather my father) has a workshop full of wood/metal working tools. Grinders, files, heavy-duty vice, just about everything one would need for finishing 'em. What I want to know is, must I have a forge? Or is it possible just to buy knife stock and grind/file/sand the metal down to the desired shape? Thanks for your help.
 
That's what's called 'stock-removal.' You can't do things like damascus without your own forge, and you may have to send your blades out for heat-treat, depending on what equpiment you may have lying around, but that is how many, if not most, knives are made nowadays.

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com
 
A Forge is not essential but its a lot of fun.

What type of knives do you want to make?

What type of steel? If you want to make knives from stainless steel, skip the forge.

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Sola Fide
 
Hi Disco...
smile.gif


May I suggest a knife making video from Hoods Woods..
www.survival.com

Go to their video section or e-mail Ron Hood himself at:
diogenes@survival.com

This video is by far the best Prim knife making videos on the market.It basically shows you how to go about making knives with a charcoal fordge that you put together for propably under $50-75.00 depending on how resourceful you are...

At $20.00 for the video,,you won't find better instruction than Tai Goo and Tim Lively both Masters in the field of Prim knifemaking. You can't go wrong with it,,even just for watching the sheer skill of these two artists at work..

This is where I would start..

ttyle Eric...

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On/Scene Tactical
Leading The Way In Quality Synthetic Sheathing
 
Many, many makers start out doing nothing but stock removal and may or may not eventually start forging later on. Then there are quite a number of folks that start out making knives using nothing more than the forging method.

Stock removal is nothing more than that. You start out with a piece of flat stock and "remove" material from it by means of a file, grinder, or sandpaper. Many stock removal type makers have their heat treating done by other folks, some do it themselves.

Forging on the other hand is where the piece of steel is forged or hammered to shape, to usually about 90 percent complete and is ususally finished to its final shape by the same methods mentioned above. Most, if not all forging makers or smiths do their own heat treating.

Which method is better? (Pssssst! It depends on the heat treat!!!)

Actually, it kind of depends on what your personal preference is. At this time, I do nothing but stock removal but I keep threatening to start forging. That is, if my neighbors don't mind. You see, you can do stock removal just about any where. Forging? Well, how close do you live to your neighbors? Some folks just don't appreciate the sound of a hammer ringing on an anvil at 8 am on a Saturday morning.
 
Thanks guys. You've been quite helpful.

I'd like to start off making some fixed blades such as daggers and hunting knives since those should be the easiest. I have some wood and leather working skill so I should be able to make handles as well.

Later, if I'm still interested in making knives, I figure I'll make some folders.

And I do plan on using stainless steels. I think I'll buy some 440c or ATS-34 to play with.

Thanks again.
 
Stu,

If you will be using a grinder, I suggest practicing on some scrap steel first. You will save a lot of money and be more open to experimentation while you get the hang of it. Good luck.
 
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