suggestions for blade blanks

G

Genin

Joined
Dec 28, 2009
Messages
19
I forged knives for about 17 years. I did enough hand forging that I had to have the tendons in both elbows re-attached. When my wife and I moved into our new house to do an extended family, I had to give up the shop, so I gave much of my stash of my handle materials to a friend.

He got on in years, and just returned the handle materials to me. There is Kudu, and Impala horn, Steller's sea cow bone, giraffe bone, some rare rosewood/cocobolo, ebony, and some more common woods like Goncalo Alves, Osage Orange, maple and oak.

I would really enjoy putting a few handles on knives, but the blade blanks I have been able to find are of either designs I am not interested in, or of stainless, and I prefer how carbon steels hold an edge.

I am interested in finding some blade blanks for large camp knives, or fighting type bowies 8-11" long with a back edge tip that can be sharpened.

Does anyone have suggestions for places to look for blade blanks like those I am seeking? I have tried Jantz and the other knife suppliers but they mostly have stainless blades, or designs I'm not really interested in.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
 
I suggest joining us in the discussion over in the shop talk section of this forum.
I have looked at blanks offered by companies, and if you are used to making your own, you will likely never be happy this way.
I suggest getting some rectangular stock and making your own designs by stock removal. I can't think of any steps that are too hard on the elbows.
 
The surgery to repair my elbows worked like a champ, and after a year I was able to return to forging my blades. I guess when they re-attach the tendons, they really anchor them well, because I never had any more problems with them.

All my big shop tools, anvil, 2x72 belt grinder, drill press, bench grinder, buffer, are all gone. The only tools I have left now are lots of files, a hand drill, and one of the little 1x10 inch work smart sharpening belt sanders. I have made a few knives using just files and the little belt sander and a metric ton of elbow grease.

I fear you may be right though about me just not being happy with the designs and steel offered in those supply sites. If I could find a local knife maker who would allow me to buy, rent, or earn some shop time that would be terrific. I'm not too proud, and would even just sweep up around the shop and be a go-for.

After getting all that gorgeous handle material back, my creative side has been re-awakened...I would even trade some of the handle material for shop time if I could. Maybe it is a combination of creativity being re-awakened, and boredom from staying at home because of all the Covid stuff...

It just bugs me to have this beautiful material just sitting in a box in the corner when it should really be going onto knives.
 
There's knifemaker.ca in Canada that sells tool and carbon steel. Not sure about the shipping costs though

7 various types. Not a knifemaker and never bought from them. Just remember them from some shows

DON
 
When I lived in Tucson, there was a fab shop nearby which did water-jet cutting. I would bring them a sheet of steel & for $60 they cut to my pattern. There was very little waste & I would work them on the 2x72 grinder, then send out for heat treat. Once they were back, I would finish the grinds, add scales & have a decent blade of my design. It worked out very well & didn't cost too much per blade, about $1.25 for small blades & $3.60 for the larger blades.

Now that I live in a small town in northern New Mexico, that's gone as an option (shipping costs are prohibitive) until I make another connection closer to home. I'm having to rough-in my profiles on the grinder, but still send out for heat treat. It's all a trade-off, but a decent water-jet can work wonders & keep outside labor costs down. This isn't for everyone, but it's an option which can work, depending on your location & connections.

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I really appreciate all the input. Truly do. I used to live in a major metropolitan area where I had access to plasma cutter, could have water jet cutting done, and had a commercial heat treat lab a few miles away if I wanted a cryogenic treatment done following heat treat. Before I learned how to do a clay backed blade quench, it was nice to have a lab guarantee a hardness within one point of what I specified.

I really appreciate all the input on the thread, and I'm sure that eventually I will locate what I am looking for...Thanks again.
 
You could try asking in the makers section? I'm sure someone will be willing to work from a sketch....
 
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