MY FIRST KNIFE EVER! Took it up as a hobby. Let me know what you think!UPDATED PICS

[eastcoast101]

This is my first batch of knives that I have ever made. All of them came from a single piece of 1/4'' thick
leaf spring. It took me a little more than 1 month to make these in my spare time. I heated them up until they were red hot to straighten them out and profile them but I've kind of hit a dead end. I dont know how to proceed from here. I believe it is 5160 but I'm not sure.

This is the Japanese kwaiken style dagger that I made.

[/url]IMG_05421 by James Romero, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_05221 by James Romero, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_05231 by James Romero, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_05201 by James Romero, on Flickr[/IMG]

I dont know what this is but I like.

[/url]IMG_05291 by James Romero, on Flickr/[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_05301 by James Romero, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_05321 by James Romero, on Flickr[/IMG]

This is a small tanto knife that I made.

[/url]IMG_05241 by James Romero, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_05281 by James Romero, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_05251 by James Romero, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_05261 by James Romero, on Flickr[/IMG]
This is a small skinner/tracker/field knife? that I made. I probably gonna call it the Porkchop!

[/url]IMG_05401 by James Romero, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_05351 by James Romero, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_05361 by James Romero, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]IMG_05341 by James Romero, on Flickr[/IMG]

This is it guys! My first group of knives that I have ever made and I am pretty proud.
But I could really use some help on how to proceed from here. Any tips on refining the profile? Should I harden first or get it absolutely perfect? Any tips on getting the lines perfectly straight? Any help would be absolutely appreciated! Criticism too!
Thanks in advance.

 

[LimuHead]

This is my first batch of knives that I have ever made. All of them came from a single piece of 1/4'' thick
leaf spring. It took me a little more than 1 month to make these in my spare time. I heated them up until they were red hot to straighten them out and profile them but I've kind of hit a dead end. I dont know how to proceed from here. I believe it is 5160 but I'm not sure.

This is the Japanese kwaiken style dagger that I made.

I dont know what this is but I like.

This is a small tanto knife that I made.

This is a small skinner/tracker/field knife? that I made. I probably gonna call it the Porkchop!

This is it guys! My first group of knives that I have ever made and I am pretty proud.
But I could really use some help on how to proceed from here. Any tips on refining the profile? Should I harden first or get it absolutely perfect? Any tips on getting the lines perfectly straight? Any help would be absolutely appreciated! Criticism too!
Thanks in advance.

Pix aren't showing.

 

[eastcoast101]

This is the Japanese kwaiken style dagger that I made.

 

[el gigantor]

Pix aren't showing.

Seconded.

 

[eastcoast101]

Thanks

 

[eastcoast101]

Should be up now.

 

[Spyder59]

I am getting the pics. Very nice start. Please post more pics as you continue in the completion of these knives. Keep developing your apparent talent for knife making. I look forward to seeing these knives again when you have completed them.

 

[AdamFuzzyballs]

i love that tanto shape, looks nice! love the double finger choil

 

[dkb45]

All of these knives, with the thick stock used from the steel, could simply be finished by a cord wrap on the handle. Proper scales would make it rather thick, and a cord wrap adds a good bit of traction.

Only major things I can say is make sure you do the heat treat correctly, and I would recommend grinding the stock down on the blades so you can take advantage of the blade shapes. Great start on your work, though!

 

[NJBillK]

Heat treat them with about 1/8" or so left on the width of the cutting edge. Due to the added thickness you will have less likelihood of warpage during quench.

Normalize
Straighten
HT
Quench
Clean
Temper
Temper
Final grind
Sand and polish

Congrats on the knives, off to a good start.
Now order some 1084 from NJ steel baron and get a spare toaster oven for tempering and you will be fine for now.

 

[Matador]

Good stuff! Liking the Pork Chop.

 

[Bev66]

Looks great!
I also made my first this weekend, great fun and addictive!

Toaster oven for heat treat?
Can you recommend one to get to those temps or are you doing lower temp HT?