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bprice01

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Jan 1, 2012
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Hi everyone! I've been lurking here for just a few days. I'm a pretty avid shooter and will be attending a pistol shooting class in March. The instructor is pretty adamant about blade transitions and is a big proponent of a certain design. I was doing some research on that specific blade and ended up here. I really enjoy making things and just recently decided to try my hand at Kydex holster making. This combination of interests has led me to the conclusion that I should try to make my own knife and sheath for the class.

After reading several great stickies and threads here, I ordered 18" of 1/8" Starrett A2. I plan on having my knife heat treated at Texasknife so I went with an air-hardened steel. I don't have a grinder, so I will be profiling with a drill and hacksaw, and potentially an angle grinder. Today I used up 2 Home Depot gift cards on files, clamps, a vise, drill bits, a hack saw, blades, etc. I plan on just using a template from pictures of the Bloodshark that I've found online and will be wrapping the handle with paracord.

Thanks to everyone that provides all the great content on this forum. I apologize for the fact that I will have nothing to contribute but questions. Thanks in advance for your patience.

- Ben
 
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Welcome! Sounds like you're off to a good start! Be sure to look into tutorials in draw filing if you haven't already.
 
bprice01 said:
I apologize for the fact that I will have nothing to contribute but questions.
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That's actually a very important contribution. It's also nice to see someone new post about making a knife, having done some homework already.

Good luck, and welcome to the forums.
 
I read your post and was thinking to myself "eh, I would have gone with a different steel becuase of heat treatm.... Oh, he got that covered. well, what about profiling and su..... Yeah, he figured that out too."

Great job on doing your homework. I wish there were more people like you.
 
Salem Straub said:
That's actually a very important contribution. It's also nice to see someone new post about making a knife, having done some homework already.

Good luck, and welcome to the forums.
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Thanks. I enjoyed checking out your website and articles.
 
Knife making is important to get this economy going, next to car restoration there is nothing I know of that will eat more HD gift cards. You sound like a man with a good plan, hope you share some pics.

Good luck
 
Welcome,

BTW you pick a very good steel to start with. A2 makes a great blade, in fact I am going to pick sum up here in a couple of days. :)
 
Patrickknives said:
Knife making is important to get this economy going, next to car restoration there is nothing I know of that will eat more HD gift cards. You sound like a man with a good plan, hope you share some pics.

Good luck
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I've got an '81 FJ40 and a custom bobber that can attest to that.
 
bprice01

I'm gonna be pro-active and give you some answers BEFORE you ask any questions. Feel free to apply them as you see fit.

1. Yes, sometimes.
2. That depends upon personal taste.
3. About 3 or 4. It's not real fussy.
4. What? Are you crazy???
5. Sure, you can do that. It's a great idea.
6. That's only used for making butter knives.
7. About $300 - $600. Somewhere in that neighborhood.
8. You need a GOOD grinder to do that!
9. Plenty of beer.
10. Purple or red should work.

Enjoy the quest and keep us updated.

- Paul Meske
 
Welcome Ben!

When I first started, an angle grinder and a Magicut file worked. A dremel tool would also be useful in smoothing the curves.

When you can afford it, a real grinder with good belts is a must. My first grinder was a Grizzly ... made things a lot faster than with files. Now I use a KMG with a variable speed drive.

Have fun!
 
More answers to questions as yet unasked:

1) That's probably because you work hardened it by pressing to hard and long on the drill press. Try drilling more slowly.
2) Carbide drill bits would also help.
3) You CAN do it that way, but it's not the proper use of an angle grinder and could result in injury or death.
4) There is no one correct answer... it's a personal preference thing.
5) Stabilization is required for anything that has "burl" in the name.

- Greg
 
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Commercial post removed.

Please, no buying or selling offers in Shop talk!
 
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