Knife Newbie here with a question

[Blackmantis]

Hi there guys.

I apologise if this is in the wrong section of the forum, it's my first time posting here.

I'd just like to get some opinions on something. I'd like to have two knives built, both are from a video game and are basically fictional (but appear to have various elements of various knives built into them). The only reason I'd get them built is novelty/collectors purpose, so as impractical as they may look, I'm posting a picture of them anyway.

I'm working on getting some better shots (as these were created from photographing my telly set). I am going to look into ripping the 3d models directly so I can get some much higher quality pictures.

There is a description for the lower one (which appears to be some kind of Rambo II knife cross M9 Bayonet blade) and it reads: 11" blade Carbon reinforced alloy blade. Not sure if that is even a real metallic description.

Anyway, I'd just like some input from anyone who may be able to tell me if these would be possible to create, and if so, how much it would cost? Once again, I'm a complete newbie to the process of knife-making et cetera so I apologise if this seems like a huge waste of time.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I think you may find one or both on ebay.
They would be expensive to have custom made as real knives.

 

[Blackmantis]

I think you may find one or both on ebay.
They would be expensive to have custom made as real knives.

I've searched eBay but I have had no luck. I've seen certain elements that resemble the knives but nothing that actually bears resemblance to the real deal.

 

[FTO_dude]

you gotta remember that they aren't actually real knives and you arent going to find one that resembles it exactly.
as bladsmth said, to have them made would probably cost you more than you think.

 

[12345678910]

What is the name of the game?

I suspect that if it is at all popular, someone will start knocking them out in Pakistan and selling them on ebay

United Cutlery has one similar, but not exactly the same.

 

[tryppyr]

They look like knives I saw at a swap meet this weekend. Normally priced at $14 each, they were half off this weekend because the guy is getting out of the cheap repro knife business. The accoutrements looked cheap. None looked rugged. They were billed as "collectors knives", with no indication where they came from or what materials they were made from. My guess is that there was a lot of "pot metal" in them.

If you just want a toy to show off to your gaming buddies, go to a swap meet and look for the knives there.

- Greg

 

[BChou-E29]

For what its worth...

Harbor Freight sells a similar looking one for $9.99, less if you got a coupon. I'm not sure about the quality of the blade itself being that it just says "stainless steel" but if you're just looking for a novelty item...there ya go.

 

[BChou-E29]

I also agree with tryppyr, if you visit any flea market, I guarantee you will find something similar looking and for maybe $10 or so.

 

[Blackmantis]

I also agree with tryppyr, if you visit any flea market, I guarantee you will find something similar looking and for maybe $10 or so.

Sadly there are no "flea markets" or wal-marts or anything like that where I live. Knives are knives, you pay $50-200 for a Taiwan clone knife here in Australia.

I'd expect it'd cost about $2000 to get them made though, but I don't know yet. Maybe if I win another $5000 on my next lotto ticket I'll get someone to make them.

 

[Atlas Knife Company]

To answer the question: While ugly, the blade wouldn't be the difficult part. The hard part would be the handle. The handle on the top appears to be rubberized, and the bottom appears to be knurled aluminum. A lot of work involved in those.

 

[Blackmantis]

For what its worth...

Harbor Freight sells a similar looking one for $9.99, less if you got a coupon. I'm not sure about the quality of the blade itself being that it just says "stainless steel" but if you're just looking for a novelty item...there ya go.

The blade looks the same there, would it be possible to just buy one of those, and make a customized grip for it and then possibly coat it in a darker finish? (Once again, newbie here so no idea how knife finishes etc work so this may or may not be possible).

 

[Blackmantis]

To answer the question: While ugly, the blade wouldn't be the difficult part. The hard part would be the handle. The handle on the top appears to be rubberized, and the bottom appears to be knurled aluminum. A lot of work involved in those.

Ah ok fair enough.

I'm curious, if some little Taiwan shop can produce one for $9.99 (even though it's probably not the best of quality), is there even a way I could get into contact with a knifemaker who does cheap dodgy knives? Even if it's not the best quality etc.

I have a few Asian/Pakistan-made knives and so far they haven't fallen apart, but I don't use them for heavy-duty work (I've only cut boxes open with them etc)

 

[Edro20]

I'm curious, if some little Taiwan shop can produce one for $9.99 (even though it's probably not the best of quality), is there even a way I could get into contact with a knifemaker who does cheap dodgy knives?

I seriously doubt that -- at least not here on BFC.

 

[FTO_dude]

I'm curious, if some little Taiwan shop can produce one for $9.99 (even though it's probably not the best of quality), is there even a way I could get into contact with a knifemaker who does cheap dodgy knives? Even if it's not the best quality etc.

the reason they are cheap and dodgy is becuase they are all just stamped out and finished on a machine and produced in mass quantities

which part of aus are you from blackmantis? i know what you mean about there being no such thing as flea markets. and even if there were such things(there are, theyre just not very common) they certainly wouldnt be selling knives, not in this country

 

[Patrice Lemée]

the reason they are cheap and dodgy is becuase they are all just stamped out and finished on a machine and produced in mass quantities

And don't forget labor that is paid almost nothing. (And sometimes nothing/slave labor).

I say why not buy them here from a good maker? The economy needs a little shot in the arm. Shouldn't run you more than around 2-3K a piece.

 

[Blackmantis]

the reason they are cheap and dodgy is becuase they are all just stamped out and finished on a machine and produced in mass quantities

which part of aus are you from blackmantis? i know what you mean about there being no such thing as flea markets. and even if there were such things(there are, theyre just not very common) they certainly wouldnt be selling knives, not in this country

I'm from New South Wales (mainly the Blue Mountains) but I did check out all the "Asian" markets in Sydney for a while. A few knives but mostly dodgy Rambo II knives, some swords, brass replica flintlocks and a few fantasy daggers.

And don't forget labor that is paid almost nothing. (And sometimes nothing/slave labor).

I say why not buy them here from a good maker? The economy needs a little shot in the arm. Shouldn't run you more than around 2-3K a piece.

Now that's the attitude I like. Obviously most people would say "pfft no-one should spend that much on a knife, buy a Kabar etc" but even if I did buy it for collectors purpose, I may as well get one that is usable from a good knifemaker.

I'd be fine to pay $2000 or so per piece (as that's what I originally imagined it would cost), and in the end, the way I see it, I still have a unique knife that no-one else has the exact same design of.

Who knows, if I ever become famous, the knife probably would too.

 

[Atlas Knife Company]

I would suspect that if you look at Jantz.com, USAknifemakersupply, Joesknifeblanks.com or somewhere else that has blanks, you might find something very close that you could make look almost identical with a little annealing, filework and rehardening. After that, there are several people that specialize in just handles. I haven't done this long enough to know what the handle people would charge.



Yes, I know only Jantz is a real place, AFAIK.

 

[Atlas Knife Company]

Ok, I'm curious here. Is $2000 per knife reasonable, or over the top expensive? I was imagining much, much less, in the $500 range, but I',m still a newbie, never been to a good knife show, and have no idea the prices demanded for custom work for the various levels.

 

[FTO_dude]

what game is it from?
if you have the time on your hands, and you obviously have the money, i suggest you look into making the knives yourself. That way you gain the self satisfaction too.
you can show everyone "this is the knife from game such and such, and i made it myself"
you would probably have to modify the handle design slightly to accommodate a more amateur approach but its certainly doable, even on a budget of $500 or less.

 

[Blackmantis]

what game is it from?
if you have the time on your hands, and you obviously have the money, i suggest you look into making the knives yourself. That way you gain the self satisfaction too.
you can show everyone "this is the knife from game such and such, and i made it myself"
you would probably have to modify the handle design slightly to accommodate a more amateur approach but its certainly doable, even on a budget of $500 or less.

I would love to do that mate but I've never built a knife in my life. I am only 21 and usually more of a tech/computer geek but I'd love to give it a go. It's from the "Resident Evil" series which is well known amongst the gamer community so I don't doubt that photos of real deal Resident Evil knives would land a spot on the gamer news pages such as Kotaku.com.