My first attempt at a knife

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fivefold

Joined
Mar 29, 2008
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Hey all. I wasn't goin' to post this but a buddy of mine said I should. I've got the urge to build my own knife and spent about an hour on Saturday with a hand held belt grinder, a stand grinder, and some sand paper. This is what came out.
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I plan on buying a new belt sander in the near future and I didn't have the time to make a guide for the notch yet, but I'm looking forward to doing a father/son activity with this. My son is stoked about it. Any hints/criticism is appreciated.
 
No critisicm from me, keep at it, develop your talents, and put me down on the waiting list when you go pro!
 
popcornpicker said:
Nice effort. What did you use for steel?
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Some basic steel that we had laying around the shop. I didn't try to temper it.. who knows maybe it would work well. I can tell you that even though it's not hardened, it has a wicked edge to it. I tried convexing the edge on this one. Worked out ok.
 
fivefold said:
Some basic steel that we had laying around the shop. I didn't try to temper it.. who knows maybe it would work well. I can tell you that even though it's not hardened, it has a wicked edge to it. I tried convexing the edge on this one. Worked out ok.
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Mild steel will take a very nice edge, just won't hold it. It won't put up with prying either.

But, for learning how to shape the steel, it's useful. If you need a scraper or something like that it will do the job.

Looks good! Try to get hold of some steel that will make a real knife next time, and see what you can do with that.

Andy
 
I'm looking forward to starting on something with some good steel in the next few weeks. Thanks for all the replies.
 
Check out some flea markets or garage sales and see if you can find old hedge trimmers. Not the electric kind, the old choppers with hickory handles. You get two blades and two handles with each one.
 
popcornpicker said:
Check out some flea markets or garage sales and see if you can find old hedge trimmers. Not the electric kind, the old choppers with hickory handles. You get two blades and two handles with each one.
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Never thought of that. I was aiming for some old files, but this adds another avenue to follow. Thanks for the tip.
 
I don't mean this as a criticism -- any prison inmate would be proud to own that. It's an excellent shiv.
 
Sharp Phil said:
I don't mean this as a criticism -- any prison inmate would be proud to own that. It's an excellent shiv.
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LOL! Everyone that has handled it says the same. I did some contouring of the grip area, but with the leather/tape on it, it certainly looks like a shiv.
 
Andrew Colglazier said:
Mild steel will take a very nice edge, just won't hold it. It won't put up with prying either.

But, for learning how to shape the steel, it's useful. If you need a scraper or something like that it will do the job.

Looks good! Try to get hold of some steel that will make a real knife next time, and see what you can do with that.

Andy
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Don't be so quick to discount mild steel as a decent cutter. Google "superquench" and read what some folks have done while experimenting with mild steel.
 
Thanks for the info on "Super Quench". Very interesting reading indeed. I've read that Infi steel isn't super hard on the Rockwell scale, maybe this has something to do with the edge quality of the metal? While we're on the subject of heat treating, how much metal should be left prior to the heat? I would imagine that you wouldn't want to take it down to a razor edge because of warping issues. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
Cool attempt. How many bandaids on your knuckles. I love handles to be wrapped. I trust that your wife's truck ain't gonna lean too much after you next look for better steel.
 
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