My very own custom made knives!

CJZ

CJZ

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Joined
Dec 18, 2012
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So I took a class with Joe Szilaski and Jim Siska, both of which are extremely talented knifemakers, wonderful teachers and great all around people. Anyway, after a weekend of forging, grinding, sanding and shaping, oh and some drilling, I had two knives which were almost ready to use. One of them (the one with the bigger holes) will be wrapped in paracord, and the one with smaller holes will have some kind of natural handles material. I still have to pin that one, and both have to be tempered and sharpened.

Pics are a bit jumpy, I didn't take that many.

Started out as a big slab of 1084, then I shaped the tip with a hammer and a hot forge



After forging and shaping were done, onto grinding



I sketched what I wanted the finished product to look like



I made a second knife



This one will be wrapped in paracord, I put holes in to make it lighter



My first one, the holes look weird but they have Sharpie around them and they'll be covered up by scales (which I still have to do)






Only 15 years old and already making my own knives :D

So whatchu think??!
 
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Very cool, I have been at a stand still on my knifemaking and have some blanks that are almost in the same stage as yours, but need holes and heat treat. Did you just use a standard drill for your holes?
 
Wow, very nice, if I did those I would be proud of them. Post pics of them finished.
 
1Hiker2 said:
Wow, very nice, if I did those I would be proud of them. Post pics of them finished.
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Sure thing! Once I temper them, i'm gonna order some handle material and brass pins, finish that up and put an edge on them. Pics will be provided, I promise :)

I still don't know what kind of handle material I want. Wood? Stag? Micarta? Who knows.

I do know that the smaller one with the bigger holes is getting OD green paracord wrapped, and a kydex sheath.... The bigger one with smaller holes is getting natural handles as I said, and a leather sheath.....
 
Nice work. I think you have a future if you stick with it.
 
protourist said:
Nice work. I think you have a future if you stick with it.
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Thanks! I would love to get into this hobby, but prices on the necessary tools are ridiculous. Perhaps when I get a bit older and I have some more money laying around.

Making knives is very fun, though.
 
CJZ said:
Thanks! I would love to get into this hobby, but prices on the necessary tools are ridiculous. Perhaps when I get a bit older and I have some more money laying around.

Making knives is very fun, though.
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Keep your eyes open for good deals on tools. They are out there and can at times be gotten pretty cheaply. Right time right place.
If I had the kind of natural talent that you must have to have ground those, I would certainly have thought about a knifemaking career.
Hopefully you are looking at a future in something like engineering. I would be.
 
Very nice! Keep it up.
Like protourist said, keep your eyes open for tools. Check your local paper, craigslist, yardsales, etc.
 
Outstanding first time effort. I really like that smaller one, which Halpern Titanium would easily make some nice scales for it. Do you have plans to sell your work?:thumbup:
 
Alnamvet68 said:
Outstanding first time effort. I really like that smaller one, which Halpern Titanium would easily make some nice scales for it. Do you have plans to sell your work?:thumbup:
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Sadly no, then I'd have to pay for a Knifemaker's membership. :dread:
 
Looks good! :thumbup:Are you going to do your own heat treat? I will post some pictures of knives I have made/are making in the next few days.
 
Congratulations, they look very good. It's a nice benefit to have very experienced craftsmen guide you through the process. Hopefully you can turn this into more than a one time thing. :thumbup:
 
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