Made a few knives! Looking for comments/suggestions.

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Eastsidekiller

Joined
Jul 17, 2010
Messages
51
I made these knives last week. In the past I made one using typical zinc plated flatbar steel you can find at any home depot. That was just an experiment and at the time I was only 13 or 14 and too young to realize all steel isn't the same. While these aren't made from any super steel or anything any professional knife maker would make their knives out of, I'm still happy with what I was able to create. I've always been interested in how knives are made and I've spent a lot of time watching videos here and there (mostly youtube) just gathering information. I just wanted to post a picture and see if anyone had any kind words or constructive criticism for me. Thank You! :)
http://i1324.photobucket.com/albums/u611/Eastsidekiller/SANY0131-Copy.jpg
 
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I like them! I always love to see an admirer make the leap to creator. I especially like the look of the top one! :thumbup:
 
The Tanto one in the middle looks good! Keep it up! BTW u could right click the icon of the non-working image and just copy the img url to the browser and voila. Pic is up!
 
I plan on making more, but all the options that come with making your own knife make it hard to decide what I want to try next. I guess that's where the fun comes in, figuring out what shape and style you want and trying to make it original. When I do make more I'll make sure I put up a picture or two and see what you guys think. Is there anything you guys think should be changed about the three I posted?
 
I had to edit my original post. My link wasn't working for some reason. It should be now, if it still isn't let me know and ill try something else.
 
I made another knife today. Its a little more simple in design, but I think that's what I like about it. The only thing left is to add a handle. What kind? I don't know yet, but most likely a cord wrap like my previous knives. Advice and criticism welcome! Thank you!
SANY0138.jpg
 
Since I just figured out how to post my pictures directly (last time I posted i used a link) here's a picture of the other 3. The knives on the top and the bottom could still use some polishing and ill probably get that done in the next couple days.
SANY0131-Copy.jpg
 
I'd focus on the handle profile. Nothing wrong with those handles, but I'm always a sucker for a good handle. There are many ergonomic, useful, secure options out there. Check out Emerson folders for a start. Great ergos- especially on the 8. Also, the Swamp Rat Ratmandu has great ergos.

The handle is really more important than even the blade shape. From there you can work on things like: thinning out/evening out the grinds.

They do look really nice for just getting started! What sort of tools do you have to use?

Also- it looks like you're using files (at least on the middle one). That's great, but limits your design/shapes- as I'm sure you know. Alphaknife supply has great prices on blade steels. On the cheap end, you can get 5160 or 1095 for WAY cheap, all the way up to the fancy CPMs.
 
Looking good! The blades themselves look pretty well done. My suggestion? Invest in some G10 or micarta and try to make some handle scales. It's a lot of fun :)
 
Good eyes! I am using files, mainly because I want to get in some good practice. I want to have real confidence in what I can do before I use any really nice steels. For tools I'm using my dad's stuff (I'm only 18) so I have access to 2 different disc grinders with various discs including wire wheels, belt sanders, jig saws, air tools including drills and grinders, plenty of sand paper in all different grits for when it comes to polishing. None of the tools I'm using are really the most practical for making knives and definitely not what you would turn to when it's time to make any cuts or grinds that require true precision, but I'm just using what I have access to. I agree that the handle should have more thought put into it than the blade and it's shape. I realized it after I finished my grinding and shaping and polishing and finally got to cord wrapping the handles. Cord wrapping them isn't hard, but its definitely tedious and making one wrong twist (say its supposed to be clockwise and you turn it counter-clockwise) will leave you unwrapping the last 15 minutes of work you did. My point is saying all of that is that in order to truly check my handle along the way for comfort and grip and everything else that's important when it comes to your knife's handle, I would have to wrap it, check it, unwrap it, make some changes, and wrap it again. Since these are "trial knives" I'm trying different shapes and checking them after my blade is finished, this way I'm able to see which handle works the best without spending more time on my handles than my grinds. I can practice everything all at once. I'm going to keep you guys updated. Kind words make me feel like I accomplished something, and criticism lets me fix what could have been made better. Thank You to everyone who's stopped to see my pictures and taken the time to leave me something to read! :)
 
As random as this is, anyone who checks this page more than once is going to find my username kind of odd. I am from the "east side" however I am not a killer of any kind lol. This has been my username for almost everything since I was about 8 years old mainly because of a video game called Socom. It was a 3rd person shooter. Me, my dad, and my brother all used to go online and play at the same time each on our own PlayStation 2. Why such an evil name? An 8 year old playing a war game needs to have some way of keeping people from realizing he's just a child LOL
 
I have a question. When i make my bevels, is there any real reason why my grind lines should face the edge of my knife rather than the point? Maybe that's a confusing way to ask but I'm not sure how else to word it. Any help is appreciated.
 
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