Should I start with a kit? trapper?

mattd

mattd

Joined
Oct 6, 2003
Messages
252
I would like to start making knives and don't know where to start. Where,how to get steel, other parts... Should I start with a kit? A friend would like a trapper for x-mas. Are there trapper kits? Should I start with one. So many questions. I would love some advise.

thanks,
mattd
 
I think that is a good idea especially since you have a time deadline, Christmas, for your first one. It will also help you determine if you might like making knives without having to spend alot of money up front to find out.

RL
 
I agree with Roger (big suprise, we started about the same time and caught the same fever - hope you get it too).

My first was a kit. Then things got out of hand.

Steve
 
Definitely start with a kit. It will go much better for you.
www.texasknife.com has all the kits you could ever want including some pretty nice trappers. You can also check out www.kitknives.com , but they don't carry slip joints unless something has changed pretty recently.
 
I made a compact camper kit for my first knife..now i have a drill press a 2 x 72 blademaster a craftsman 2 x 48 a wood bandsaw and about a half a bench full of files and assorted goodies. Next purchase a metal bandsaw man those hacksaws are tough! Now im hopeless,i go to sleep and dream about knives..and its all these guys fault!! God love em! Do make a kit but be careful. Your habit can get out of control quick.
 
Steve (itrade) is way ahead of me.

The equipment adds up to a heavy price but just getting started is not over whelming. It all adds up over a period of time and before long you'll have about all the esentials needed. Don't buy expensive equipment without first leaning on the experiences of knife makers found here.

RL
 
Originally posted by mattd
I would like to start making knives and don't know where to start...
Click to expand...
You've come to the right place, Matt. ;)

The guys here are great and full of....well....advice! :eek: :D


(...waiting for someone to say "Hey! I resemble that remark!"....)


The "best kit" is the one that costs the least and is the most readily accessible. I'll drop a knife catalog in with the book I'm sending. Just pick out what you like and make an order. Plan on spending $20-$30 on materials and don't be afraid to take your time. We all screw up the first time! If you're like me, you'll be screwing things up for years to come...:D

There's a great deal of satisfaction in making a blade and keeping it super sharp.

Just remember: It's of no value to know more than you're willing to do.

What's that mean? It's good to read up, ask questions, etc. but your best lessons will come from sticking your hands right in it. Mistakes are great lessons and you can't make mistakes if you're not trying. :rolleyes:

:footinmou
 
matt where are you from? you might want to try to make a post for some local knife makers. maybe someone could run you through their shop.... then the bug will have definately bit you and you'll be on your way to what swede said.... no sleep just knives.
 
Well, Roger, I hate to argue with you, but I think your past me. Esp. with the exotic materials and heat treating you do. I've seen your work, in pics, great stuff.

Besides anyone that can mirror finish S30V has my respect!

Steve
 
Steve, I have not yet been able to mirror finish S30V; so far only so they reflect. I've tried though, and tried and tried and .............:grumpy:

Hey Steve, been meaning to tell ya: I've used your mosaic pins on three knives so far and still have some left for more. Very nice looking pins when buffed up. Glad I was able to get them from you.

I hope that fancy LN container is working well for you. Let's figure out a way to make a heat exchanger now.

Well, there I go again getting off subject - sorry mattd.

RL
 
off the subject is great! any info you want to spill I'll clean up. Go ahead and spill information about how to get steel and how to heat it up cheaply.

Pendentive I would like to thank publically because he has just been great to me. He doesn't know me, he just knows that want to learn about knives. Someone must have gone to special lengths to help him get started. I hope to be able to help someone trying to get started too.

I will look for some trappers and get back here!
 
Matt,

Kits come pre-heat treated. So you don't need to worry about that.

However, they aren't what you'd call a high-performance blade. They aren't really that much better than a knife you'd buy over the counter.

They do sell some blanks of ATS-34 or damascus. There you are looking at spending $50 - $200 on a blank.

Still I'd start with a couple of kit knives and keep them for yourself.

Then ask here on this forum if there is a maker that will make you a blank. Then you can use some fancy materials and have a really, really nice knife.

Probably the third step will be to buy some steel and try it from scratch.

Steve

PS Roger, don't care what you say, you still have me beat!

The LN tank was bad. It needs to get re-evacuated. I lost $80 of LN in 3 weeks. re-evacuated is only about $100, but I can't find anyone local!!!
 
eventually I want to make everything, especially the blade. Thanks for the reply!
 
The trapper kits on texas knifemakers (link I posted earlier) have cryo treated blades that are 440A I beleive. I put together a few of them back when I was just getting started and my dad carries two and my uncle has one too. They both are happy with them, definitely not a new wonder steel but it offers a good balance of edge holding and being easy to sharpen.
If you strop them a little bit they'll shave the print off a newspaper :)

There's no limit to how creative you can get with them either. You can filework the liners easily and do anything with the handles you want. I made one with white cow bone scales that had rosewood inlayed at each end between the bone and the bolsters. A very frustrating thing to do, but it was worth it. Have fun, bet ya can't make just one :D
 
Matt Shade,
no bet because I realy liked 3 of the texas kits so I bought all of them. I justified it by saying that the three knives cost as much as a night at the local saloon or a nice dinner with the girlfriend. I can't wait till they get here! Lots of stuff to do before they get here.
 
Well done mattd. After doing those three you will have a jump on fellows that just dive in, such as I. In time for Christmas too !

Great luck in your craftsmanship.

RL
 
Kits are probably the smart way to go. I myself just jumped in at making damascus. That is what I wanted to make, so i figured that was the best place to start.:rolleyes:

I have to admit that finding/making the equipment was almost my favorite part. A close second to seeing my first sucessful damascus pattern.

Now it is just a sickness. The only time I am not thinking about making a knife is when I am making a knife. If that makes any sense.

I think most makers will tell you that they get into a "zone" where the time space thing gets warped and 6 hours passes like 6 minutes.

Anyway, good luck and make sure you post pictures of your stuff and ask questions, I think that is how we all learned. That is the other great aspect of knife making; you will never know it all. It is a continuous journey.
 
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