Knifemaking kit ?

pahl

pahl

Joined
Feb 23, 2002
Messages
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It seems like all the knife kits I have been looking at online have everything done for you.

The only thing you have to do is put it together.

Do the kits really fit together so well that you don't have to do any finishing work?

Even if you get the scales they sell to fit the knife they make it sound like the scales are already fitted to the knife and all you have to do is install them onto the knife.

I'm not really sure what I'm looking for yet, but it would be nice if there was a little more work to a knife kit then just screwing the pieces together.

I have looked at the kits listed on BF and at knifekits.com

Being my first knife kit I'm looking for something not to hard, but something more then just a box of pieces that only need to be put together.

Any knife kits out there that need to have the pieces fitted together, polished, etc....
 
The kits over at Knifekits.com are available with the scales rough-cut to size and pre-drilled, but there is still plenty of fitting and finishing left to do. You can also modify to your hearts content or embellish with filework, engraving, etc.

Those kits will keep you pretty busy if that's your desire.
 
I'm still envious of the filework you did on yours Steve. That thing turned out gorgeous! :)

The cool thing about the kits is that they have different levels. SO you can start off with a simple put together and finish knife and then get progressively more complex. At least that was my understanding of where they were headed. And, like Steve says, you can go as far as you want with even the most simple of them.
 
Steve,
Could I see a photo of the knife kit you did?

Anyone else care to show a photo of a knife kit you did?

Thank
pahl
 
Hey Pahl...

I've got a couple real nice Tacticals by Jeff Diotte that may be up your alley...

Drop me a note, I can get a pic of it for you..

ttyle

Eric...
 
Is this your first real knife project?

If so, you might want to start with a fixed blade, rather than building a folding knife. There are many places you can get the blades and trimmings, etc.

A fixed blade is easier to put together than a folding knife. However, there is more variety available in the kits and you have a better chance at actually having to get your hands dirty. ;)

If you're set on a folding knife kit, you could always order the kit w/o the scales, get the handle material separately, and fit them yourself (Don't kid yourself, though, that alone is tough enough).

BTW, FWIW, I would recommend not getting the DDR 605 kit. I think if you shook the box hard enough, it just might fall in place...:rolleyes:
 
I think the 605 kit is a great one to start out with. Its got more options and better quality than most of the folding knife kits you find. If you really don't want to try and do much for the first try you can get the handle kit and everything. Leaves, assembly and sanding/finishing for you to do. I made one as a quick way to make a knife for my brother, and did file work all the way around the liners, added about 1.5" of serrations to the blade, and made a set of black G10 scales for it. Don't have a picture anymore.

The other run of the mill kits from places like koval make nice knives but theres a lot of fitting to do on all the peices to make them work right. I don't think there really all that hard but you have to understand how the knife is supposed to work, and pay a lot of attention to detail.

If you really want something different you can make a fixed blade. Go to www.texasknife.com and look through their selection of blades. Then pick out hardware (gaurd, butt cap, bolsters etc.)to go with it. Most of them list which hardware will fit each blank. Then pick out some handle material. For a first time making a handle I would recommend micarta or G10. They're fairly soft and machine/cut pretty easily, not to hard to finish either. If you have some experience working with wood, I've had good results with rosewood and cocabola( some people have strong allergic reactions to these be careful) They shine up nice with a few coats of watcos danish oil and are pretty durable.

After a kit knife or two it isn't that big of a step to make your own blades. For simple fixed blades you don't need much more than a hack saw and files. A drill press is a big help. You can send the blades away for heat treat,so there isn't much more to it than a kit after shaping the blade.
 
Matt, is right the 605 is really easy, Ive put 12 together in the last year. Ive used jigged bone, sheephorn, buffalo horn. I sand the bone, and bolsters to 400grit, and polish both with jewelers rouge. I also add a cutout in the handle for the thumb stud.
kits come in all ranges, but remember all may need some kind of fitting. the better the kit the less fitting it may need, not always, but usually. If you have questions about kits call troy koval, hes usually at the shop, Im sure he would be glad to help you, really nice guy. If your good at working with your hands, mechanically inclined you'll have no problem!!

p.s. if you want to save money, buy your own handle material!!!
 
I do have some wood working skills and tool. Including a drill press.
I'm checking out texesknife.com :eek:

I was looking at getting a folder as my first kit, because I don't really used fixed blades.
I was looking forward to doing a knife kit that I could use when I was done with it.

I see texesknife.com has "FILLET BLADE OR KIT" now there is a fixed blade I did not think of.
I use a fillet knife all the time.

Texesknife.com looks preaty good, thanks for the link.

I will let you know what I come up with.


Anyone else have some good advice or links?

Thanks again,
 
Sounds like you've got the bug now too :)

Also look at

www.kovalknives.com

www.jantzsupply.com

I give my business to Texas knifemakers supply right now, I 've only sent 2 blades to them for heat treat and got one order of supplies but the service was prompt and everything was right.

The people at Koval are very nice and try to be helpful but I was having a hard time with my stuff getting put on back order, I'll probably give them another try sometime or maybe just go to the store since they're fairly close.

Never dealt with Jantz but they have a good reputation.


I don't want to discourage you from a folder, I've put together 3 of the trapper kits that they sell at koval,(I think that the same thing is available from TKS) and they all turned out good (considering who put them together ;) ). They could have been put together as is and been fine, but with a little tweaking on the shape of the tang and some stuff like that they can be alot better. It varies from kit to kit.

I'm making my own knives by stock removal now, screwing up frequently and eyeing those kits more and more. Then something finally turns out and makes me decide to keep plugging along. You might find yourself in a similar situation before too long :D
 
Originally posted by pahl
Steve,
Could I see a photo of the knife kit you did?

Anyone else care to show a photo of a knife kit you did?

Thank
pahl
Click to expand...

I'll try to get a pic tomorrow but the black backspacer is tough to photograph. I fileworked the liners as well, and while I won't be putting any custom makers out of a job, it was a pretty respectable knife when I was finished.

There is a nice gallery of finished knives on the Knifekits.com site. There is also a forum you can visit off of the site and there are always good pics there as well.
 
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