Recommendation? Possible to knurl a blade after HT?

[Herzav]

Heya everyone!

I saw some custom knives with some beautiful knurling done on the blades, I understand it has aesthetic and practical functions (jimping, grip). I was wondering whether it actually is possible to knurl a knife after it has been heat treated? Is there a hand held knurling tool of sorts or is it reserved for lathes only? All the youtube videos I have found is machine based, and knurling a tube is way easier than a small surface of knife that you can only work in a single direction

Or am I better off just taking a diamond jewelers file? So far hand power tools and me in general have not been a good combination

Thanks in advance!

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Knurling is done to round objects, with a lathe.
You are probably referring to checkering. Checkering is usually done with checkering files, needle files, or a jewelers saw before heat treating.
Diamond files can be used after heat treat.

 

[Barry H]

Another substitute word for knurling is jimping. I have put thumb jimps on the spine of the blade after heat treat with a diamond bit in a Dremel tool run at the slowest speed.

 

[navman]

Diamond files, some careful layout and patience and it can be done. If you have a steady hand you could use a dremel cut off wheel for simple jimping.

 

[Herzav]

Thanks for the suggestion guys! Is there a particular brand of diamond files that you would recommend?

 

[Taz]

I use my Cricut to cut a stencil of capital "I" letters and then my electro etcher that I use for my logo to cut in Jimping after heat treating. You need to coat the blade well with nail polish to protect the rest of the blade.

These are AEB-L, 62 HRC that I jimped this way.

You can also use cut off discs in a Demel, or the rounded burrs for Dremels, too to cut jimping into hardened steel. I still lay out a stencil with the CriCut to keep them more evenly spaced.

 

[eveled]

I use a checkering file. It makes parallel cuts.

I used it to Checker a hammer

Then realized it was perfect for cutting jimping I’ve done Buck 110 lock buttons and knife spines. Obviously after heat treat without a problem.