Is making your own knives worth it?

C

catspa

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Oct 25, 2009
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Sorta inspired by the “are expensive knives worth it?” thread, but more from the “broke and miserly” point of view. For those who can’t (or won’t) afford expensive knives, perhaps because their financial priorities lie elsewhere, but have more discretion over how they spend their time. Is the investment in skills and tools worth it?

My answer is “yes” (surprise, surprise).

One reason is, those skills and tooling spill over into other things I enjoy.

Another is, I can make a knife that pleases me. No need to wait and wonder if a knife company will read my mind and produce it. I don’t make knives for sale, just for my own use. Very occasionally, I give one away.

Also, there just aren’t many people walking around my county strapped onto a knife they made themselves.

Y’all ever think like that?

Parker
 
Yes, very worth it but costly if you cannot make your own tools. I stick to easy high carbon steels to heat treat myself. I have sent some stainless out for heat treating. Can’t afford an oven yet.
 
scherf68 said:
I stick to easy high carbon steels to heat treat myself.
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Me too, my heat treating methods are definitely primitive. Actually, my taste in knives runs toward the simple and primitive - maybe that’s the reason making my own works for me at all.

I guess I should have disclosed that up front. My knife desires are so unambitious that they can be satisfied by the knives I cobble together.

Parker
 
I could buy a whole lot of knives for the amount of money needed to buy equipment for making my own knives of equivalent performance.
So from a strictly financial perspective: No, it does not make sense. Cheaper to buy the knives.

But if you enjoy developing the skills and making something with your own hands, then it makes great sense.
 
If you already have a grinder and drill press and bandsaw you can make a decent knife relatively cheap, and send it out for heat treat. But I have only done it once, because it takes TIME, and is frustrating, and omg 3v is hard to grind
 
I started out with a grinder (thank you DCknives) built using Ameribrade wheels and platen, made it cost effective at beginning sourcing out other essentials via Craigslist. Since, went full Ameribrade and a big difference with tolerances.
Not affiliated with them, just live within 30 from their company, impressed though.
Been debating to build oven but might just save up and buy ready made. Will continue using my home-built mini forge that works perfect for high carbon. Really want to treat stainless though. I just love this hobby.
Drill press is used the most besides grinder.
 
If you want A KNIFE, buy it. If you want to MAKE A KNIFE, then go for it. It is rewarding once you make it, but they require time, effort and making mistakes along the way. Usually the time and effort required is greater when you don't have the propper tools (which are not cheap).

As someone stated above, it is not financially cost effective.

Mikel
 
If you have the desire to do it, and it gives you pleasure. Then it is worth the effort. It’s a hobby after all. People spend more money and time doing things they enjoy.

There is no way it is worth it monetarily. There is no way it is worth the time invested.

I have a decent shop, I only make things I cannot easily buy.

I made a guy a set of custom seat brackets for a model A To give him a little more room behind the steering wheel. He was very happy.

But I can buy a Buck knife that will last me a lifetime for less than the cost of my lunches for the week.
 
It's true IF you are making things that you can't buy easily.

I've got a pretty decent bunch of knives that I bought.
But None of them are perfect.
I want this blade, on this handle..... Stuff like that.
It's really frustrating.

I started out by modifying them.
But know it's to the point, I'm starting to make my own.
 
catspa said:
Sorta inspired by the “are expensive knives worth it?” thread, but more from the “broke and miserly” point of view. For those who can’t (or won’t) afford expensive knives, perhaps because their financial priorities lie elsewhere, but have more discretion over how they spend their time. Is the investment in skills and tools worth it?

My answer is “yes” (surprise, surprise).

One reason is, those skills and tooling spill over into other things I enjoy.

Another is, I can make a knife that pleases me. No need to wait and wonder if a knife company will read my mind and produce it. I don’t make knives for sale, just for my own use. Very occasionally, I give one away.

Also, there just aren’t many people walking around my county strapped onto a knife they made themselves.

Y’all ever think like that?

Parker
Click to expand...
It's very fun and very rewarding and I love it. However, most people on here are usually drooling over high end folders. It takes quite a while and not too many make it there to start making better than commercial folders. Personally I can make a wide variety of fixed blade designs, but I've still never attempted a folder.
 
Like knarfeng knarfeng said, I can buy a lot of knives for the startup cost it would take to make my own. I’d guess it would take me $10k-$20k and 5 -10years of steady knifemaking to even get close to the level of the knives I like to use and collect.
 
I'm lazy, and I'd rather let somebody else do the "heavy lifting"...
 
knarfeng said:
But if you enjoy developing the skills and making something with your own hands, then it makes great sense.
Click to expand...
I do, in fact that’s a pretty good description of my entire life.

Eveled, sure and I’ve got a bunch of Buck knives too. Some of them hold great memories, and I’ll probably buy more someday. But my handmades are special in a different way - they trigger the memories of making them. Their history as a knife started with me. Buck can’t sell me that.

A guy who can fab seat brackets is well over halfway, skill wise, to making himself a decent knife. IMHO.

Crag and Richard, yep. Learning and doing that stuff, and improving the skills to do it better. Immensely satisfying, to me.

Parker
 
Mikel_24 said:
If you want A KNIFE, buy it. If you want to MAKE A KNIFE, then go for it. It is rewarding once you make it, but they require time, effort and making mistakes along the way. Usually the time and effort required is greater when you don't have the propper tools (which are not cheap).

As someone stated above, it is not financially cost effective.

Mikel
Click to expand...


I dont have much to add to this.

To the OP title question...
Financially? No not at all.
In regards to some immeasurable quantity that feeds my soul? Yes, yes it is.
 
It is expensive to get up and going. But worth it because now you have the equipment.
 
catspa said:
I do, in fact that’s a pretty good description of my entire life.

Eveled, sure and I’ve got a bunch of Buck knives too. Some of them hold great memories, and I’ll probably buy more someday. But my handmades are special in a different way - they trigger the memories of making them. Their history as a knife started with me. Buck can’t sell me that.

A guy who can fab seat brackets is well over halfway, skill wise, to making himself a decent knife. IMHO.

Crag and Richard, yep. Learning and doing that stuff, and improving the skills to do it better. Immensely satisfying, to me.

Parker
Click to expand...
I totally get what you are saying
It’s something I always wanted to try. Even if it’s just a simple railroad spike knife.

It just never makes it to the top of the todo list. Seems there is always something that needs to be done, and I only have so much energy.
Luckily I bought my Anvils and forge before “Forged in fire” hit the scene. I doubt I could afford them now. Lol.
 
I go both ways. Mainly I just want to keep this thread near the top of the roster.
 
From a purely financial aspect, making knives isn't profitable for the vast majority of people.

I've been making knives on and off for about 10 years and have yet to make a dime. I've actually yet to break even.

By the time you add up the equipment, consumables, supplies, materials and your time, you're in the red.

Knifemaking is fun, but I'm glad it's just a hobby and not a career for me. 😁
 
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