New shop knife made from scrap.

[Ivan Campos]

I was throwing some stuff away last week and found the remnants of one of the first knife I heat treted in my forge. It warped real bad and hardened throrughly, breaking in half of the first attept to straighten it.
I reprofiled the blade a little, finished it and here is my new shop knife! Not bad, considering it was goint to the trash can. The blade is 5160 steel, 2 1/4" long, flat ground from 3/16" stock, and the overall lenght is just over 6". the blade warped so badly that you can see it is warped even it being this short, but it really does not matter as this won´t leave the shop.
Yes, I am cheap and I loved not to throw this one away!

 

[Rick Lowe]

Never can tell when a mistake ends up turning into a useful tool. I've got one that the tip broke on from over heating and large grain growth. I broke it about 1/2 way down and the grain was perfect. Now that 2" square end knife cuts my thick sheath leather easier and better than the razor I was using. The mosaic pins, vine file work, and Brazilian cherry handle look real sporty,too.
Rick

 

[Ivan Campos]

That´s right, Rick. I am very carefull with everything I throw away and have built both of my benches from old junk stuff - have to take a pic of them one day because you will not believe if I show you!
And, regarding the little knife, I tested it today on a variety of tasks on the shop and at home and it worked very well, being very easy to preciselly control. As I missed some more belly on the blade profile next time I´ll break a more upswept one .

 

[Will52100]

Cool little knife. Got plenty of "shop" knives around myself, though very few get that level of finish!

 

[Ivan Campos]

Mine also usually tend to be handled in the traditional "knifemaker´s choice" handle material, duct tape, but I tried to do something different this time.

 

[blgoode]

good use of steel buddy!!