Eyeing a knife forged from a file. Some of the teeth are still left on the flats of the blade. My question is whether this gets in the way of using. Does stuff get stuck in there like they would when you use a file? And would it be harder to keep from rusting since those deep grooves could be hard to clean?
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Question on blades made from files
- Thread starter Grapevine
- Start date
The biggest name in knives made from files that I know of is Anza Knives . I have been interested in picking one up for myself since I have seen them in a few places but never got around to it. I have never read anything indicationg that the file teeth get in the way of use though. As I understand it they are a well made knife for the money.
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The file alloys rust easily. The grooves are great places for rust to start. Another issue is potential blade cracking. The bottom of a groove provides a great place for a crack to start. There is an effect called "stress concentration" that causes even a shallow notch or groove to significantly increase the likelihood of a crack forming. If you get corrosion in your groove you make the problem worse. Unless the file blades are made unusually (and undesireably) soft the grooves in the blade are a significant liability.
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Many years ago I made some knives out of files, the bottom third was knife, the top 2/3s was file. They were great work knives, if you had to dress up the threads on a bolt to get a nut started you could. They cut well, I never broke one, the blades were only about 3 inches overall about 6 inches in length. Not bad for utility stuff, would hate to use one on big game, but one man did and said it worked well. Never had one rust, but never washed one either. Not a great file or great knife, but a whole lot better than nothing and pretty versitile.
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One of the guys I work with makes all his own knives for clearing trails. He uses old truck springs and files. They seem to wear very well.
)Not usually. Most blades forged out of files might show the "residue" (so to speak) of the teeth, but the teeth are usually "forged" (hammered) flat. Ive forged blades from files many years ago, the thing you have to be careful of is the heat treat. Blades made from these tend to be brittle, so the trick is to temper the edge well, while leaving the spine relatively soft (but not too soft) so that is is not brittle ( I use to use a mixture of brine and oil to temper, old blacksmith trick). Its usually wise not to use a blade made from a file for heavy chopping. The carbon content of most "high" quality files is pretty high.
Well you got me interested in these again that I went ahead and ordered myself a knife from Anza Knives to check them out. When I get it I will let you guys know what I think of it.
I will say that I am alreaday very impressed with their CS. I placed my order online late Friday, and almost immediatly got a response from them via email. I am not talking about an auto response either, an actual person took the time to tell me the knife was in stock, and would ship Monday.
I will say that I am alreaday very impressed with their CS. I placed my order online late Friday, and almost immediatly got a response from them via email. I am not talking about an auto response either, an actual person took the time to tell me the knife was in stock, and would ship Monday.
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- Feb 13, 2004
- Messages
- 787
I have the Anza Boddington that we used on a passaround awhile back. This year I used it to field dress a whitetail. After I got home I thought I may have trouble with the blood and fat that was in the grooves, so I had a old toothbrush handy. But using hot water it wasn't needed, after cleaning it up I applyed a coat of 3in1 oil. I've not had any trouble with rusting, but this knife design has a blued blade and I'm sure that helps. If you do a search for the Boddington I believe you'll find some pics along with a review.
Danny
Danny
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2001
- Messages
- 156
I own multiple anzas and even had charlie build me a custom ( basicall a boddington with a clip blade). Their customer service is excellent. very friendly folks. sharp knife. It cuts very well and for the price? its hands down the best value around for a custom knife made to your specs (i paid like 60 bucks for mine which included a nice handmade sheath as well). i buy one at every gun show i go to.
Hi Grapevine
I say like rev jch, that is also my experience of making knifes (spearheads, arrow heads and so on) of files..
My experience is that some type of file-steel rust very easy but other do not. I think there are many different types of steel in files, perhaps depending on where they are produced. Old files rust more easy compared to new ones.
If you do not reheat them, they can not be used in really hard work, they can broke, not only in 2 pieces, they can broke in many pieces, more or less explode. Thats how, and why, I learn to reheat them.
Some learn the intelligent way others learn like I do
If the teeth are there or not is more or less a question of design, not how the knife performs. The teeth is of cause collecting dirt of all kind, and also rust, but if you use oil on the blade the problems is not so big.
It is better with out any teeth marks of hygienic reasons.
The picture shows a spearhead made by a dagger formed file.
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Regards
Thomas
I say like rev jch, that is also my experience of making knifes (spearheads, arrow heads and so on) of files..
My experience is that some type of file-steel rust very easy but other do not. I think there are many different types of steel in files, perhaps depending on where they are produced. Old files rust more easy compared to new ones.
If you do not reheat them, they can not be used in really hard work, they can broke, not only in 2 pieces, they can broke in many pieces, more or less explode. Thats how, and why, I learn to reheat them.
Some learn the intelligent way others learn like I do
If the teeth are there or not is more or less a question of design, not how the knife performs. The teeth is of cause collecting dirt of all kind, and also rust, but if you use oil on the blade the problems is not so big.
It is better with out any teeth marks of hygienic reasons.
The picture shows a spearhead made by a dagger formed file.
Regards
Thomas