Knife kits/ ground & hardened blanks of high grade steels

[Rsq]

As you have likely already gleaned, i am trying to make a knife without taking any part in the forging/heating process--due to a lack of skill and equipment--but all of the blanks/kits seem to be of aus 6 or 8. I would like to start with a better steel, like D2 or s30v or cpm154. I like gene martin's designs, and believe i will probably end up purchasing some blanks from him. I am wondering, however, if there are any semi-commercial makers of decent folder kits, or at least who makes the best. I like the designs of the darrel ralph kits, but i'm not enthusiastic about aus8.

Thanks, and i promise this will be my last new thread for a couple days

 

[james terrio]

Have you approached makers you like about buying an un-handled knife? Some folks still take custom orders.

 

[Seals]

Jantz sells a pretty nice lockback kit with vg-10.TxKnifemakers has a couple of damascus kits.Knifekits.com has a few also.

 

[Rsq]

Is there any way of knowing the steels used in their damascus? Ive been steering away from them on account of not being able to find that information

 

[mete]

VG-10 makes a nice knife and various designs are available. AUS-8 is a fine steel assuming it's ht'd correctly.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Knifekits - www.knifekits.com

They have a huge selection of folder kits and the few tools needed to tools to make them. They sell VG-10 blades for many kits.

 

[E.K.Tryon]

Here is the Jantz Silver Mink I just finished for my son's birthday. The Harbor freight 1"x30" belt sander fit the bill for me. I feel like kits are a great way to get into building knives and understanding the process. I swapped the wood scales that came with the kit for the green Micarta. I also found working with Kydex wasn't are hard as I figured.

 

[Jason Magruder]

Mike Erie used to sell kit knives with good steel. Not sure if he still does or not but they were pretty nice, and cheap too.

Your best bet might be to contact a maker that you like and ask about buying a custom kit knife. It would most likely be more expensive than the commercial kits but you'd probably get a better product. If I wasn't so busy I'd probably make one myself.