knife spine filework !!

bush-haus

bush-haus

Basic Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2010
Messages
924
Hey guys and gals
Below is my first ever file work done to my first ever knife I am making from a file. The picture quality is really crappy but shows off some well spent time on my knife.

Also, what is the best site/youtube video that shows the best way to make a jig for a scandi grind for a knife with no current grind. I want to use a file for grinding off all of the metal. I annealed the knife well (to my amazement, I am normally not that lucky:o ), it's very soft and easy to manipulate at this point. I made the entire shape with just another file. No cutting whatsoever as I wanted to make sure I didn't retemper the knife. I appreciate any help and/tips !!!

7VLkq.jpg


_______________________________
Beckerhead #32
 
Looks great, you have what dollars to be the base for a nice knife. One question: why does everybody make knives out of files? I have seen a tion of people doing so, and it never struck me to ask until now.
 
files are usually made of pretty good high carbon steel, and very cheap to find at any hardware store !! The size of the files are a good length and width for knives as well. I had to anneal the steal before I could cut into the file and shape it. I am using another file of the same kind to shape it and the file and I using to shape hasn't changed a bit.

__________________________
Beckerhead #32
 
Last edited:
Now that I think about it, the dimensions of a file would be good for a knife. Another dumb question: is annealing like removing the temper, to make it workable?
 
yes, to make it like it is "raw" again so you can manipulate it. I am obviously no expert as this is my very first knife, but what I did seemed to have worked really well. I started a fire in my bar-b-q-pit and spread the coals longwise. I made sure the coals were very hot. Then i put the file down and put more wood/charcoal on the fire and left the fire to burn out. This allows the file to heat up VERY HOT, and then slowly cool. This process takes the carbides out of the steel so it's not quite as hard. I saw this process done on Youtube. To reverse the process you do the same thing with the fire, except to retemper, take the file out of the fire while very hot and put it into a bucket of oil to QUICKLY cool the file. This brings it back to it's orignal hardness. I doubt that this will resemble ANY temper that a professional can do, but it's the best I can do for now.

_____________________________
Beckerhead #32
 
I think you can send a knife to places to be tempered or retempered, like custom makers. I could be wrong. For your temper, did you temper it then test it for hardness or anything? I would think that you would have to temper it a few times for it to be even and sufficient, but I have never made a knife so you know more than I do.
 
That looks great! Especially for your first try!

I really like filework on certain knives, and have been messing around with doing it myself lately too. Sounds like you are taking to knife making pretty quickly, next thing you know you'll be investing in a nice belt sander! ...haha!

I made a couple file knives a long time ago myself, too bad I didn't know anything about annealing back then, and made them both from fully hardened steel! :o
 
I am quite sure I could send the knife to a professional, but what's the fun in that? :D
I want to see how well I can do with my hillbilly tempering! I have not tempered it yet as I have not put a grind yet on the knife, but I will soon, which is why I am hoping somebody knows of a good jig I could make so put a good 20 degree Scandi grind on the knife.

the knife will be a 4" drop point blade with wooden scales. It will be my first of the style and size. I drool everyday that I get to work on it !!
_________________
Beckerhead #32
 
BryFry said:
That looks great! Especially for your first try!

I really like filework on certain knives, and have been messing around with doing it myself lately too. Sounds like you are taking to knife making pretty quickly, next thing you know you'll be investing in a nice belt sander! ...haha!

I made a couple file knives a long time ago myself, too bad I didn't know anything about annealing back then, and made them both from fully hardened steel! :o
Click to expand...

Thanks Bryfry !! I do a lot of research on each component before I move forward so I don't have to keep starting over. Way too much time spent on these things!!
Trying to make a knife from a tempered file must have been a nightmare. :o

______________________
Beckerhead #32
 
Looks really good man. Keep us posted on your progress, with pictures too, of course :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top