Making a bushcraft knife, first attempt

[Joben]

I have a cheap machete with broken wood handle scales. I decided to canibalize it.

Since the handle isn't that bad, i decide for my first knife to basicaly cut down the machete to a 1:1 blade/handle ratio.

Here is my blade geometry, The straight lines i'll cut with the dremel. Then grind to the final curves.

I press the metal into the wet sponge every few seconds to keep it cool. This creates an unexpected problem: the ink washes off.

I scribe the straight lines and finish the cutting.

I redraw my curves and use an automatic center punch to create rows of dots that follow it as a grinding guide. Can't really see them here, but they helped.

Coming along...

Here is is, far from finished, but the general shape and rough edge bevel angle are set. I've got about an hour and a half in it so far. Next to my Izula for size comparison.

What do you guys think so far?

(p.s. please don't move this to custom knives or something, I don't know anyone there. )

 

[BarberFobic1992]

Looks great to me, good way to recycle some old steel. The only thing I might do it grind down that nub and the back of the handle. Looks like you even have enough steel left to do another.

 

[Sparljo]

looks awesome.

You may run into some issues if you are going to put scales on it... that first pin hole looks pretty close to where the edge starts.

Its going to be as soft as the machete was... should make a great field knife.

 

[Echo4v]

Joben--man great idea. I have an old machete at the house that I have been thinking about rehandling but now I think I'll just completely repurpose it.

Thanks for the inspiration
David

 

[siguy]

My first good knife was made from the tip of a machete, as far as I know it's still in use with the nice lady that bought it from me.

Good first attempt, I look forward to seeing how this turns out!

 

[James_Terrio]

Great way to get started! Have fun but be careful... this madness can be addicting.

 

[John G]

Looks good so far! Keep us updated.

 

[KiljoyKutlery]

Looks like a great knife, keep it up, but be careful.


Amen to that, I keep saying I am gonna get into the shop, then I go out every weekend and buy more tools at the Flea Markets....this is a serious problem! I have so many hand tools that I have trouble storing them, I have a jobsite trailer 6'x6'x10' that is FILLED, and I borrow storage from my cousins garage, and my parents 2 sheds...and my trunk is full...and another buddy of mine has a shed with a corner of my stuff...which he bitches about...its a real problem, this knife making.
Now,if I could just make a knife or 2

 

[Joben]

looks awesome.

You may run into some issues if you are going to put scales on it... that first pin hole looks pretty close to where the edge starts.

Its going to be as soft as the machete was... should make a great field knife.

Yeh, really not sure what i'm going to do for a handle.
Some reshaping and a cord wrap would be simplest, especially with the slightly funky position of the holes.

Yeh, the steel is also flexible, which isn't nessasarily a bad thing, but it's one of the reasons I made the blade quite wide.

 

[Marion David Poff]

Looks good to me man.

Good Job.

Marion

 

[Joben]

Update:

Here is the original handle and surviving handle scale from the machete. weird huh?

I thinned, smoothed and rounded the handle. Back with the old scale again for comparison

Some glamor shots:

It batons nicely, I credit the humped back.

Handle prototype: The original scale ground to a more apropriate shape....ok something like that'll work.

That seems like it's within my ability to make so....

The Knife with it's prospective bride:

 

[Myal]

Im liking it

 

[Mistwalker]

Hmmmmmmm, I think you just gave me a great idea on what to do with the saw-spine Ontario machete I have that I just don't like. Thanks!!

 

[cuphead]

looks good dude, I cant wait to see the overall outcome.

 

[untamed]

Nice! Can't wait to see how it all turns out!

 

[Joben]

Handle scales! Carved with my Mora clipper. My hands ache...

These are going to get more shaping and be thinned down more.
But it's gonna look something like this.

My young compatriot thinks fresh cedar chips smell great.

 

[udtjim]

Nice looking remodel :thumbup: I have redone four or five Old Hickory knives, I will post them all one of these days. A friend of mine just got a new plasma torch that might speed thins up a little.

 

[ZombaiO]

Cool !
I like it very much :thumbup:
Congratulations !

 

[Masteroffajitas]

Very nice.

 

[blgoode]

thats one cool project buddy!!!! DIGGIN' IT!