The first knife I ever made

Mark Knapp

Mark Knapp

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Dec 20, 2009
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It's 41 below outside, and there is little movement. I've got some work to do but it seems like a good time for a story.

I made my very first knife when I was about twelve, I didn't make any after that again till I was about 40, with a couple of exceptions, one in High School and one in my 20s. My first knife was made from a hack saw blade in the family garage; I was an avid kid fisherman so this one was going to be a fillet knife.

I fashioned it after the Rapala fillet knives that were and are so popular. After grinding on a bench grinder for what seemed like a very long time I finally had what seemed to me to be the best fillet knife ever. It had a graceful sweep, a nice taper and wonderful flex, to me, through my 12 year old eyes, and I BUILT IT.

Now, what to do about the handle. After some considerable ponderings I decided to mold it to fit my hand exactly with this stuff called window glazing compound. So I did, I scooped out the right amount, formed it around the tang and shaped it to my hand... exactly. Then all I had to do was wait for the stuff to harden. I did, I waited.... and waited. I don't know how long I waited but I waited a long time. Then I read can. On the can it said it doesn't even begin to harden for six months and stays pliable for a minimum of six years, and they were boasting about it. That seemed pretty stupid to me.

So I took the stuff off. I then found some Plasty-dip, the stuff you dip your tool handles in to coat them with plastic. I dipped the knife in several times and let it firm up between dips. On the last couple I let it skim over and grabbed it in my right hand to form it. The handle was bright blue and it was pretty great. I can't remember what I did for a sheath for it, or if I did any thing at all. I had that knife for a little while and then it just disappeared.

I would like to read some other stories of the "First Knife I (you) Ever Built"
 
I wish I'd started sooner. Always was drawing knife patterns at about that 12 year old age and onward to my mid teens, but never made one. Maybe a couple ninja stars in shop class but that's it.

Knife making is something I've only recently started to do, and instead of boring anyone with that 'first' story, those who are interested I documented that process, and you could check out this thread; http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=632009

Cool thread Mark:thumbup: Love to hear some more stories from some of the heavy hitters on this forum. You guys know who you are, now spill it!:)
 
This is the 1st one I ever made (about a year ago). Sorry for the crap photo. It's an old file that's way too thick and probably isn't heat-treated very well and the antler tine handle's hard to hold onto and they're gaps where there shouldn't be but I love it all the same.

100_1723.jpg
 
I wish i had a first knife story. I don't have an emotional attachment to an early, crude "first knife".

I've been doing this for over a decade now, and have a lot of failed attempts and unfinished knives laying around waiting for heat treating and handles. My first completed, heat treated, and professional looking knives were done a month ago. I have a collection of nicely ground and drilled blades in annealed form that are years old. Just never bothered to heat treat and finish them.

I guess you could say my first attempt at knifemaking was when I was about 12 years old. I had a bench grinder and some butter knives. Made some tanto shapes, and wrapped the handles with shoelaces. Resembled a prison shank...lol

I don't count some ragged piece of steel I ground on a first knife. Even when I was a kid I was a perfectionist, and threw most attempts away and never finished them.

Even here on the forums i have threads started that say "FIRST KNIFE IN PROGRESS!" and during the finishing process I have screwed up so badly that the knife has to be scrapped.

I know this sounds like a complete bum out :p

So here's what you can technically call my "first knives". Heat treated, Handles, sharp as a razor, Ready to rock.

FINISHEDHABU1.jpg
 
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Well here you go then.
I must have been about ten or twelve, my that's a long way back, in any case , I found this piece of steel in the rough shape of a knife. My Dad had a very limited number of hand tools and no power ones. I found a file or two and created an edge of some sort on that piece of teel. I must have done a pretty reasonable job because Dad took that "knife" into the mill where he was working and had the machinest drill two holes in the handle to fit to long brass rivets he picked up somewhere. He managed to find two pieces of what I'm very sure was oak for handles and a piece of old wide belt leather. As well Dad took that "blade" to a chemist in the mill who had a high temperature oven. This fellow figured he should try to give it some sort of hardening treatment. The parts(?) came back to me and I remember riveting on the handles and filing some on the resulting "handle". Dad did make a case for it and the next time we were out grouse hunting I had it on my belt.
Like that one of yours, Mark, I can't remember where it went after that.
Hey I guess in reality, this was a "colaboration" with Dad and not one I could call my own. Frank
 
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