Make My Own Fixed Blade

E

ETD

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Mar 7, 2013
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I'm hoping I can get some guidance on how to take advantage of this opportunity presented to me.

I have the opportunity to design and create my own custom knife. I have access to a small manufacturing shop that has the following equipment available to use: Flow waterjet machine, Mitsubishi wire EDM machine, and Haas CNC machine.

The design software available is Solidworks and Autocad.

I want to make a knife that replicates the ESEE-3 fixed blade knife. Here is a link to the knife - http://www.bladehq.com/item--ESEE-Knives-ESEE-3P-OD-Knife-3-OD--10219

I know absolutely nothing regarding custom knife making.

What would be the correct material to use for this knife? I would like something that is strong, yet is easy to sharpen and hold it's edge.

I would like the handle to be framed and wrapped in paracord.

I apologize for being so vague and so unfamiliar with this topic.

I appreciate any information and knowledge you wish to share to a complete newbie.

I look forward to learning on how to go about this process.
 
If you want the ESEE-3, then just buy the ESEE-3. Take this as an opportunity to make something different and special. I assume you're buying the materials, and you'll have to pay to have it heat treated, so you will probably end up spending about the same money in the end, and have no warranty.
 
If you are going to have it heat treated then you can use any steel with the right thickness. The high vanadium steels and cast iron are difficult to sharpen due to the vanadium carbides. Plus the steel is expensive. O-1 tool steel is inexpensive and many consider it a step up form 1095. A $10 bar of O-1 will give you enough steel to make 4 knives. If you are considering doing your own heat treatment then most suggest 1084. A $15 bar will give you enough steel to make 6 knives. Google the NJ steel Baron for current steel prices.
 
I just made my first knife using solidworks and a tree 3 axis mill. Use the material YOU want and make it special to you. Paracord handles are easy. (That's what my handles are) you can draw out your design, scan it into the computer, then trace it exactly into solidworks. Super easy
 
I assume since you want to replicate an ESEE-3 that you will be using it for outdoor type work. In the interest of keeping your cost down, and taking into consideration your criteria I would pick one of the following steels:

A2 tool steel
1095 carbon steel
O1 carbon steel
5160 carbon steel

All four of these steels are very tough and will hold good edges. When it comes to sharpening they are fairly easy to sharpen.
I would check Alpha Knife Supply. They have very good variety of sizes and types of steel. Also you can get small quantities. I think their minimum charge is $25.00
 
EDM's take FOREVER to cut anything. Just trace that joint out on a steel blank, cut it out on a bandsaw, and start grinding! If a shop is really going to let you use their machine capacity to make knives, you shouldn't be doing onesy twoseys, but making a full production run. That is the benefit of having CNC machines. Make your prototype using regular tools, figure out your heat treatment, then scale up. Especially if this is your first knife, better to learn how to make one the hard way, first.
 
JustSomeGuy said:
If you want the ESEE-3, then just buy the ESEE-3.
Click to expand...

Yep.

"I would like something that is strong, yet is easy to sharpen and hold it's edge."

We all would!

Professional heat treating is much more important than steel selection. There are endless great steels, endless great knifemakers.... not nearly as many good heat treat guys

Check out any number of the pre-existing knifemaking threads for plenty of brain food.
 
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