Knife making. How do you get started?

A

Askel

Joined
May 11, 2003
Messages
6
Have always been intrigued by knife making (especially folders and some hunting knives) but have never made the jump after collecting for sometime. I'm looking for some good advise as to where and how to start and the approximate cost to do so. Recommended reading material,tools etc. This is my first post here at the knife forum. Although I have collected off and on for some years I'm not the brightest crayon in the box when it comes to knives so forgive any ignorance that may show in some of my posts. Thanks so much for your help. - Askel:)
 
Askel,

You have come to the right place.

I will leave to others better accomplished than I to advise you, except that as a collector you have an advantage in that you will have available to you examples of quality which you will want at least to achieve.

Patience is my best advise and it will be your most valuable learning tool. Take as much time to make your first as you can. Others here will give you very good advise on tools and such.

Roger
 
exactly.


i guess :P

ok see if there are any knifemakers near you, and if theyre on these forums :P
see if they can let you watch, and explain what they do.

Read some tutorials, start something really basic like a drop point.
Nothing fancy
 
First get your head examined!;) Seriously, I think anyone who really loves knives, could learn to make them with enough time and patience..
I started with about $1000 in equipment.
A Square Wheel grinder, drill press, and a buffer.

I read everything I could find on knifemaking, and with good ole trial and error learned to make a decent knife.. It was tough sometimes, but very rewarding as well..

Good luck!
 
George is right. Check out the nice folders on kitknives.com ALso you might want to pick up a copy of the Koval Knives catalog and Texas Knifemakers Supply catalog for materials and supplies. Do an internet search on those two names, that will get you started. Ask questions here and use the search. There is so much info here that you will not believe it. BTW, welcome to the forums! :)
 
Askel, I learned at first from reading a few knife making books (this raised more questions than answers most of the time). Asking questions on the forums, then went into the knife chat section that was ran through this forum. I then met Kit Carson on the knife chat forum and pumeled him with questions when I found out he was a knife maker. Thanks Kit! :) After a few months of questioning I was lucky enough to be invited to his house to learn. I also met makers at shows and asked alot of questions and made alot of new friends with the same common interest. Knifemakers on the whole are a great bunch of guys willing to lend a hand. To me it's about sharing knowledge and supplies and passing things along. I see you live in Peoria, I'm 5 miles west of O'hare Airport in Chicago. Your always welcome to stop by and check the shop out. I always found that seeing something in person is alot better than reading it in books, at least for me ;). Best of luck, it's a long road with alot of great curves!
 
Just a suggestion:

First buy a kit, folder kit if you're a machinist and want to make folders; fixed blade kit if you what to learn those.

Make the kit, per the instructions - and set it aside (you'll enjoy watching your skills improve by comparing it to this one).

Buy Goddard's "$50 knife shop" and Loveless "how to make knifes". Read them both.

Buy a piece of 1/8" x 1 1/2" x 36" steel for your first blade. Buy 440C if you want someone else to heattreat or 1095 if you want to do your own.

Make the knife using only files and sand paper (both books explain how).

At this point you have 2 knives and good experience. Now start buying goodies for the shop.

Steve
 
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