the frugal/practical knife knut

H

Hoodoo

Joined
Aug 18, 1999
Messages
2,355
As we all know, our "hobby" can get quite expensive sometimes. Yet most of us learned a few things about knives that might save us a few dollars here and there and be quite useful.

Here are a few of mine: In another thread someone discussed making their own knife steel. I found that a good screwdriver can function well in that department. I use a long-shafted Proto screwdriver for this purpose. I purchased this screwdriver back in the mid seventies and Proto is not a cheap line of tools so I don't know how "cheap" this tip is but perhaps there are other, cheaper models out there that will function just as well.

Also, back in the 70s, I made the following strop that still serves me well today. I used a board about 15" long, 1 1/2" wide, and 3/8" thick and glued a nice piece of smooth harness leather to one side (from an old belt, that unfortunately, no longer fit me
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), and a piece of military web belt to the other side. Epoxy works well. Put a little jewelers rouge on them and they work great for stropping. I strop first on the web belt and finish on the leather. I've made shorter versions of this for field use, as well.

And here is a cheap, no-sew neck knife sheath I made for a Mora, simply by making a few cuts in one end of a piece of scrap leather, folding the leather over and slipping it into the slots made from the cuts. http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/moraneck2.htm

Hope others will share their frugal tips or practical (but often overlooked) uses for knives here. I know Cliff, for instance, has a dandy way of sharpening convex edges using a homemade hone from sandpaper and leather.

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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM

[This message has been edited by Hoodoo (edited 11-12-2000).]
 
I've found that the rounded spine of my Large Sebenza works well for steeling knives. Yeah, I know Sebenza costs a lot more than a steel, but if you already have the Sebenza...

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Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of '04
 
Wow! I can see this is going to be a hot thread in no time at all.
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Ok, here's another "hot tip". I use an old timey shaving brush soaked with my favorite lubricant to keep my blades well oiled. It keeps my fingers away from those sharp edges. Works great for guns as well and will get into those nooks and crannies that a cloth won't but you can still control the amount of lubricant you put on without soaking the stock.

Your turn.
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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
Ain't nothing like beatin' a dead horse.
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Ok. You're out on a canoe trip and you are wearing a slick new pair of nylon pants. And I do mean slick. If you're not careful, your itty bitty pocket knife will slide out and fall into the lake. Or...you can hook a detachable lanyard to it and loop it to your belt. This is one I picked up in a fly shop.

http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/lanyard.htm

Hoodoo, spurs janglin', dead horse still whining



[This message has been edited by Hoodoo (edited 11-14-2000).]
 
Here's my frugal knife knut tip: Buy used. Most of us have more knives than we use, so when sold they are often in near-mint condition. I've got plenty of knives for good prices off of Bladeforums, or from knife shops that take used knives in trade. It's like getting a new knife for a substantial discount.
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I really wanted to get a strop to see for myself how much of a difference it really made on my knives. I didnt want to spend a bunch of money something that I wasnt sure I would use very much. I took an old belt and and bought some buffing compound from Home Depot. I really liked the portability/results that I got from my improvised strop and I still use it.

Thanks for the tips Hoodoo, Archie and Burke.

Shawn R Sullivan
 
I have to second that idea of buying second hand.

I buy 99% of all my knives from the For Sale Board or through trade. I see no point in paying even discounted retail, especially when you can get it from a fellow knut, encourage his habit, and pay significatly less for a knife with marred coating. Perfect solution. And then, since it is used, you don't feel as bad when you work it over
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Hoodoo- Cool idea with the lanyard, never would have thought of that. You should see the cool braid and knot idea I just came up with, simple but cool... Paracord and a bow cord lock work too. Thanks for bringing this up.

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Thank you,
Marion David Poff aka Eye, Cd'A ID, USA mdpoff@hotmail.com

>>--->Bill Siegle Custom Knives<---<<
-http://www.geocities.com/siegleknives-

Talonite Resource Page, nearly exhaustive!!

Fire Page, metal match sources and index of information.

"We will either find a way, or make one." Hannibal, 210 B.C.
 
I know about that dead horse you're beating ...

This farmer was not pleased with the amount of feed his horse could put away, so he cut back a bit. The horse didn't seem to mind, so he cut back a bit more. To make this otherwise interminably long story short -- the farmer finally got the horse trained to get by on eating absolutely NOTHING but one small meal a week. Unfortunately, before he could find out how much less the horse could get by on, the worthless beast died.
 
Hot tip #4,258.
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Anyone else here use a hair dryer to dry a wet knife? I use it to dry my guns, too, after a day of hunting.

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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
Originally posted by Hoodoo:
Tip # 2,346: How to make your knife less slippery. Put some of this black, tacky stuff on it. Forget what it's called.
http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/crmirage.htm

Click to expand...
Looks like grip tape, also called "step tape" works great. M friend has the butt of his duty weapon wrapped in it, awsome grip.
Hair dryer tip is great too.
I made my strop out of an old Sam Browne belt (I think it shrunk because it didn't fit anymore
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)and some jewlers rouge. Cost next to nothing.
Take care,
Chad



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"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
George Orwell
"Those who hold the thin blue line keep order, and insure that anarchy and chaos will not prevail." Chad (1992)
"He who lives by the sword dies by the sword. He who dies by the sword did not train hard enough" -Chad (1999)
chad234@email.com
 
To oil the pivot point of a folder, I use a hair dryer to warm up both the folder and the oil first before application. Geez, I hope this helps out hairdryer sales. I think about 1/4 of my mutual fund investments are in hair dryers so I appreciate all the help I can get.
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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM
 
Another tip, I use a dry film bike chain lubricant to lube my folders. I think it's called Blue Diamond. I figure the pocket environment is sort of like a bike trail in some respects (damp from sweat or puddles, stuff like dust or lint to get caught in the mechanism, etc), so something that works on bikes will work on folders. It seems to do the job.
 
Awesome tips! My wife's blow dryer has a 'cool' cycle too for that finishing touch. Never would have thought of that.

My tip is that I was able, with the help of my wife and her sewing machine, to make a knife roll out of some felt material for the inside and jean material on the outside for much less than you see them retail. Using a large strip of stretch material across the center holds things tight and, when tie-dyed, the rolls look really cool! We also used a larger flap so it doubles as a display area for table top applications.
My .5 cents.
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Shawn

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"..... and above all else, forgive me for the men
I've killed in anger; and those I am about to."
- Nightlinger "The Cowboys"
 


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Looks like grip tape, also called "step tape" works great. M friend has the butt of his duty weapon wrapped in it, awsome grip.


Yeah I use that stuff on my skateboard, works great, but rips up shoes
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Yes and the blowdryer tip is good for those hard to reach spots!!

FLY GUY
 
Like to carry heavy knives in your pocket? Try something like this backpocket knife sheath. http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/pocketsheath.htm

I made this one from an ammo clip pouch. Basically, I just cut off the flap. This one was made by an outfit called Ripoff.

Also, if you like to carry a couple of small knives in your front pocket but don't want them banging around, try making a small pouch for them. This one works for me. It ain't fancy but it's handy.
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http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/sog1.htm

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Hoodoo

I get some pleasure from finding a relentlessly peaceful use for a combative looking knife.
JKM

[This message has been edited by Hoodoo (edited 11-19-2000).]
 
Check out some of the antique stores, most of the people there are non knife people, and some times you can get them to go down on prices. Also you can find a good knife, but just covered in rust at the same place.

Another one is to clean your knives easily, just keep them in your jeans pocket when you throw them in the laundry.
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Hey TTTT, here's another good one. Lose your favorite knife, then find it again in the cargo pocket of your BDUs. It's like getting another knife for free!
 
Hoodooo, great idea for the Mora sheath. I have been trying to figure out a good way to carry mine for a while now. Those cheap plastic sheaths don't do the knives justice. The Mora knives are like those Opinels, cheap and simple, but one of the best using knives around.
 
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