Steel Choice for a Fileable Knife

M

me2

Joined
Oct 11, 2003
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I want to make a knife similar to an Old Hickory. I’d like be able to reshape/repair the blade with a file, as the intended use will result in damage.

Ideally a steel like 1045, 1055, 4140, 4340 I guess but they’re not commonly available for knife makers that I know.

Come to think of it, can Old Hickory knives be shaped/beveled with a file? That might be the best option.
 
1095 is what the original knives were made from, temper to mid 50’s to be able to cut with a file. (Still won’t be too easy though)

Hoss
 
Potential damage is likely to exceed what I’m willing to do with stones. I feel a rippled primary bevel in my future. This is an experimental thing. If that is the hardness range I might already have some scrap material.
 
The Big River store sells large, cheap diamond files.

I originally bought mine because my 1311 looked like a robot beaver manufactured it after all the paint was gone.
I cleaned it up with the diamond file, easily.

Now I sometimes use it for other knife making duties.
 
Find a damaged old machete, use that as your starting point. I always, until recently, sharpened my machetes with a file.
 
That's what started this little project. I have 3 Cold Steel machetes I'm reconditioning/repairing. They file pretty quickly, and the Barong version will cut tie wire without edge denting. I wanted a knife that could be shaped/thinned/maintained with the same jig and file. I think I found an old knife that will work. I also made a trip to my mom's and found an old 2-man saw blade in the garage. I suspect I can use that, and a file will cut it pretty handily.
 
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