Rough Knives?

Lycosa

Lycosa

Joined
Aug 24, 2007
Messages
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Gang- If I was a knife maker, I'd make a bare bones working knife and not go through all that fine finishing detail, except in the HT and the edge.
This Idea came to me when I received a knife from a maker who left the Blanchard machine marks on the blade. It looked cool, is practical and it totally makes sense to me now.
Can anyone relate? Thanks.
rolf
 
lol! Thanks Chris!
I dunt have the money to get the start-up equipment or I would!
 
Lycosa said:
lol! Thanks Chris!
I dunt have the money to get the start-up equipment or I would!
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All that you really need is a hand bastard file, a second cut file,a half round file, a drill and 1/8" bits , various grits of and paper, and a hacksaw. That doesn't include materials. You can start or less than $100. Sorry for my sloppy typing, I can't us of my left hand righ now. (cut my index wide open with hacksaw)
 
Lycosa said:
lol! Thanks Chris!
I dunt have the money to get the start-up equipment or I would!
Click to expand...

Remember though that generally the more something costs the higher the profit margin. If hypothetically you make a cheapy little $50 knife for someone, by the time you factor in cost of materials, belts, sand paper, etc... you'd need a good streamlined system if you want to make much money for your time. I think that would kill the fun of it for a lot of guys.
 
oic0 said:
If hypothetically you make a cheapy little $50 knife for someone, by the time you factor in cost of materials, belts, sand paper, etc... you'd need a good streamlined system if you want to make much money for your time. I think that would kill the fun of it for a lot of guys.
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I'm not sure it's even possible to make and sell a "$50 cheapy" handmade knife, unless one used absolute junk and slave labor... and then what's the point? Even the relatively big factories like Ka-Bar and Ontario have a hard time sneaking under the wire at that price point.

If you want handmade, you're gonna spend $100 minimum for a sharpened bar with no handle (maybe some paracord) and a chunk of Kydex wrapped around it. Maybe more features if you buy from a hobbyist who's mainly just trying to get enough cash for more steel, and doesn't need to pay himself for his labor.

Now, that's not to say the OP's general idea is wrong... in fact it's quite a good one, and several folks have been successful with it. I'm working out the details for a run like that right now... but it's not gonna be just a sharpened bar, and it's gonna be a little more than $100. Knifemakers gotta eat, too! :D

JustAFleshWound said:
Sorry for my sloppy typing, I can't us of my left hand righ now. (cut my index wide open with hacksaw)
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Relax, it's just a flesh wound. :D
 
I only charge materials. I dont think I've ever charged over $100 for a knife. Now I am blessed to have a job that provides me the resources to continue knifemaking. I only asked people to cover my costs so I can make more. Also, as an amateur I feel that im not good enough to charge over what the knife cost me to make. Kind of weird I guess, but that's just me.
 
Everything I make is forge finished, these days. It's an interesting look, it is durable (very hard to scratch it), and if it rusts the blade cleans up with 100 grit sandpaper and looks like it did when new.

That being said, as I play more with stock removal projects, I might play with other directions.
 
Thanks for the input guys.
I might give it a go.
Storm Crow- Your finish, is one reason I ordered a knife from you.
rolf
 
Rolf, it ain't hard to do, but it still takes time and a little bit of money. I say go for it, you got enough people to ask and help you out if you need :wink:


-X
 
Heat treat and edge finish can be a lengthy operation, if properly done. I would say, to make a decent knife with any sort consistency and predictability in performance, you would need at least 4-6 hours (1+hrs of actual labour*at best*, 4+hrs of waiting and monitoring.)
$50 / 4hrs = $13hr, approx.
Add to that a few bucks for material, electricity, tool maintenance...

... lets just say that you would be making those knives out of the kindness in your heart.:p
 
And I thank you Xander!
Rick- Thank you. Great points on the HT and edge finish.
r
 
BBS^ I will not be using this knife for food-stuffs.
Good question though.
And, "rough," does not have to mean shoddy.
 
The thing is, knifemakers usually get into the hobby/business because they have their own ideas what a knife should look like, feel like, and how they should perform. These ideas tend to develop and mature as they learn and progress, and they naturally begin to hone thier skills, and improve their work, in the process. The view of pure utilitarianism, if it ever existed in any given individual, usually goes out the window at some point as they realize they are capable of so much more. We develop our style of workmanship over time, and it usually encompasses more than what we envisioned at the beginning. If you start making them yourself you will get some first-hand insight into what I'm saying. Your first few knives may look like what you're picturing now, but if they still look like that 5 years down the road, you've probably missed the whole point of the handmade knife.
 
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They have to be purpose driven...

Hartsfield made knives that sometimes had rougher finished flats and grinds, they are some of my all time favorite knives.
I also love a forge finish, textures, etches and more.


This year my goal is for no grind lines anywhere. I can still get a great user finish with no grind lines too.
 
Thanks Justin. I just want to make one.
Great post, Daniel. I expect great things from you. :D
That's the thing... I love all kinds of knives!
rolf
 
Rick Marchand said:
Heat treat and edge finish can be a lengthy operation, if properly done. I would say, to make a decent knife with any sort consistency and predictability in performance, you would need at least 4-6 hours (1+hrs of actual labour*at best*, 4+hrs of waiting and monitoring.)
$50 / 4hrs = $13hr, approx.
Add to that a few bucks for material, electricity, tool maintenance...

... lets just say that you would be making those knives out of the kindness in your heart.:p
Click to expand...

My day job already job has me used to working at almost slave wages, so none of these numbers really sound all that bad to me lol. Especially if you waited until you had several to heat treat at once and were just doing it on the weekends.
 
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