My first real knife attempts

Macchina · Mar 20, 2007

Here are my first real knife attempts. I Designed them on AutoCAD, cut out the shapes and bevels on a CNC machine, then finished them by hand and hardened them with in my shop with a forge I made out of scrap steel and quenched them in used motor oil. The blade steel is O1, and the handles are Green G11. The big one has a blade thickness of 3/16", blade length of 5.5", and an overall length of 10.5". The small one has a blade thickness of 1/8", a blade length of 3" and an overall length of 7". They are both full flat ground and have a handle thickness of 5/8". I plan on using the bigger one as my hiking/camping knife, and the smaller one as my deer knife.
Here are some pictures:

Here is what I started with:

cybrok · Mar 20, 2007

I like the big one.

Autocad: that's where I'll start too. I'm glad I correctly learned to use that one.

Chiggie · Mar 20, 2007

I also like the big one. Looks comfortable.

barrabas74 · Mar 20, 2007

Thats a third on the big one, I really like it. The little one isnt my style but it looks very useful.

Macchina · Mar 20, 2007

Yeah, the little one got to tag along because I had 18" of O1 steel and didn't want to waste any. The little one was the test for the bigger one, but I like them both.

the gimp · Mar 21, 2007

They both look great!! nice work.

ciulkwens · Mar 21, 2007

you have to be skilflull designer and machinist!
I'm jus starting my journey through AutoCAD 2005, 2D only at this time

flatgrinder · Mar 21, 2007

Damn, pretty cool for your first knives.

Looks kinda "Busse combat" inspired. I like it!

By the way, what kind of CNC machine did you use? 3-axis? Did you have to change the tooling during the machining?

untamed · Mar 22, 2007

Wha? First attempt? You're off to a awesome start! (Dang! Really need to study AutoCAD as well).

Macchina · Mar 22, 2007

I used a 3-axis CNC that I use at work. I used a 1/4" 4-flute carbide endmill with a .060" corner radius for the roughing and finishing (no tool change).

flatgrinder · Mar 24, 2007

michaelmcgo said:
I used a 3-axis CNC that I use at work. I used a 1/4" 4-flute carbide endmill with a .060" corner radius for the roughing and finishing (no tool change).

Did you also CNC the scales?

Thanks for the reply. Again it looks fantastic. How about an integral as your next project?

eg. http://knifeart.com/irkresfig.html

Macchina · Mar 25, 2007

Yes, I also machined the G-11 scales. I machined them big and benched them to fit the knife properly. About that integral, check back in 20 years...

alittle_edgy · Mar 29, 2007

I think they look GREAT

Keith Montgomery · Mar 30, 2007

Not bad at all. I particularly like the big one.

Tohatchi NM · Mar 30, 2007

Two good-looking blades. I see some strong design heritage, too. For the small one, Sal Glessner's Temperence, and for the large one, the arcing grind reminiscent of early Busse Steelhearts. It always feels great to use something you've actually made. Thanks for the pics.