Newbie here. The basics of Knife making...

[Azsoldier]

What is the most stripped down Low tech way to make knives?

I have very little money for equipment like a belt grinder and such.

I don't really have the room for that stuff either.

What is the minimum a equipment you need to make a servicable knife?

Knife:
BK7 or RD7 or RTAK style.

 

[Lucky Bob]

$50 Knife Shop, by Wayne Goddard, or this: http://hossom.com/tutorial/jonesy/

I recommend both.

 

[Bruce Evans]

The bare minimum of equipment needed is as follows:

Hack saw
file
Drill
Small hammer for piening
a vise if possiable

Materials:

piece of hardenable steel
something for handle (piece of wood or something)
piece of brazing rod or coat hanger to pin the handle on
epoxy
Someone to heat treat the steel for you

A good knife doesnt have to have expensive equipment used on it to make it good.Your will to learn and a desire to make a knife is all it takes,and a minimum of hand tools.

Just search all over this forum with your questions,and if you cant find what your looking for then post a question.Or email someone that would be willing to walk you through it.Otherwise go to the book store and pick up a how to book on making knives and read it untill it is wore out

Good Luck,
Bruce

 

[h3n4]

I haven't made more than two knives, but I think you should be well off with a small bench drill-press and an angle grinder with a suitable grinding wheel for grinding the handle material. A sanding wheel for a hand drill is also very useful. A small hand saw that can cut curves, and a set of files, coarse and fine, are good to have.

Of course, this is assuming you can have the blade made outside your own shop. The above tools are only for carving out the handle.