My first custom

Tyrrell12 said:
I asked for opinions as in some constructive criticism from people more experienced in knifemaking, not for some (expletive deleted) to tell me i modded a knife i bought...To answer your question i didnt get the "idea" from a (existing knife), ive never even actually handled one, just seen em online.
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As it happens, I do have some experience in these matters. I daresay that some folks even respect my input and opinions. Which is a really good thing, because their support pays my mortgage and bills every month :)

I apologize for questioning whether you built that from scratch or modded an existing knife. Surely, you can understand how folks might get that impression. Had you actually handled that knife, you might agree with my opinion of it... or not.

I will say this, it takes a good deal of skill to take nothing but a picture and actually make something so close. That is a sincere compliment, coming from someone who's done it a few times. It is no simple task to make a knife based only on a client's sketch or a screenshot from a videogame, or even from detailed measurements and pictures of an already-existing knife.

I ask you to reconsider my comments regarding geometry, balance and design in that light. I've made and modded an awful lot of knives in that size range/intent of purpose, and I'd like to think I have some input that could help your next project be even better.

Please feel free to contact me if I can be of help in your endeavors. It's probably best to hold back on the cusswords, though. ;)
 
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quick question... is your fire brick forge regulated, and able to "soak" aka (hold the correct heat) for 15mins before quenching?

if not I wouldn't recommend using the knife too hard.

When I was younger I decide to make some knives out of O-1 and just figured as long as the knife was non magnetic before quenching and that If I tempered it in the oven after wards, the knife would work just fine. I was very wrong :(

about 10 hours worth of work went down the drain after about 15mins worth of batoning.

I personally use 1080 right now (because its all I can heat treat in house) and the stuff is pretty much indestructible under normal knife usage.

a picture of how 1080 cleans ups :D

100_1883.jpg
 
Yeah, sorry for mentioning the BK7 thing, just was the first thing I noticed. Looks like a great grinding job if nothing else. I have yet to complete my first blade, and though I like to think I'm good at grinding out the shapes, my actual bevels are... less than great. I'd like to see where you go in the future. It seems like knives of a Becker-esque style fit you, though, and you may want to head over to the Becker section and speak with Ethan. He may have some good tips and designs you may want to try out. :)
 
wolf5391 said:
quick question... is your fire brick forge regulated, and able to "soak" aka (hold the correct heat) for 15mins before quenching?

if not I wouldn't recommend using the knife too hard.

When I was younger I decide to make some knives out of O-1 and just figured as long as the knife was non magnetic before quenching and that If I tempered it in the oven after wards, the knife would work just fine. I was very wrong :(

about 10 hours worth of work went down the drain after about 15mins worth of batoning.

I personally use 1080 right now (because its all I can heat treat in house) and the stuff is pretty much indestructible under normal knife usage.

a picture of how 1080 cleans ups :D

100_1883.jpg
Click to expand...

Wow! That's a beautiful piece of steel you have there. Mind if I borrow it? ;)
 
My forge is just two carved out firebricks with 2 map torches in the side, they are the remote tank flame adjustable ones so i suppose i could try to manage temps but i just heated to non magnetic and quenched in vegetable oil and tempered at 400 for an hour 3 times. When i tested it i battoned through sum 4x4s and also a 2x4 with a good size knot in the middle, and cut a couple pennies in half. There was no edge damage and it still shaved hair from my leg afterwards. Time will tell either way
 
Tyrrell12 said:
My forge is just two carved out firebricks with 2 map torches in the side, they are the remote tank flame adjustable ones so i suppose i could try to manage temps but i just heated to non magnetic and quenched in vegetable oil and tempered at 400 for an hour 3 times. When i tested it i battoned through sum 4x4s and also a 2x4 with a good size knot in the middle, and cut a couple pennies in half. There was no edge damage and it still shaved hair from my leg afterwards. Time will tell either way
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ok if it works for you... but hopefully you wont lose any fingers or get cut from it.

Good Luck and keep up the good work. Might want to try out 1080/1085, could work great for you. Again its merely a suggestion :thumbup:
 
Thanks for the suggestion, im already in the middle of another knife with 01 but i am thinkin about making a smaller edc knife, maybe ill order some 1080 today n try it out. Thats a really nice blade, ive gotta practice shining mine up like that lol
 
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