Thinking about making a knife from a premade blank. Questions..

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Gendry

Joined
Jul 19, 2014
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92
So I was looking around for a good site to buy scales from, and I came across a site that had premade knife blanks for sale as well.. Like fully designed, heat treated and sharpened. I didn't even realize they sold those. Anyways, I don't have access to my shop at work for a few months, but would like to make a knife or two in the apartment here. I can do some woodworking with sandpaper and files and that's about it really.

So I took a look at some of the blanks, and I found one I particularly like.
http://usaknifemaker.com/kit-knives...-blade-blank-9-ladder-pattern-1095-15n20.html

Now it's a Damascus knife, so I am not sure how great the steel can be for that price, but surely it's good enough for a hobby knife right? They claim it's high quality, and professionally heat treated, but how much should I trust that?

Now, assuming you don't tell me it's a waste of money, I have kind of designed my handle and picked out some ironwood scales for it, and put it together in photoshop to get an idea what I would want.
knife.jpg


I figure, since it's such a nice looking steel, the more that's visible the better, plus it looks like a cool design on paper anyways. I have no idea how I would go about removing the material from the center like that, I imagine because it would be iron wood I shouldn't have to worry too much about it splitting on me if I tried. Has anybody tried a handle like this? Are there any fatal flaws in the idea? Any tips you could give me?
 
Now it's a Damascus knife, so I am not sure how great the steel can be for that price, but surely it's good enough for a hobby knife right? They claim it's high quality, and professionally heat treated, but how much should I trust that?
Click to expand...

1095/15n20 is a great steel combination, usaknifemaker is a reputable company and $69 is not for nothing, I have no experience with their blanks but I don't doubt they are decent.

As for the handle, I can't say I get where you're going with that. The big hole in the scales would only make it uncomfortable to use. Such an unpractical feature never looks good IMO.
 
knife.jpg


Hmm, that does look better. I'm not sure I like the curve where the handle meets the blade though.
 
Make sure you finish the front of the scales first. After drilling them match em up and taper/polish them before gluing.
 
Here's my two cents worth. My first knife was made from a stainless blade in the Jantz knife supply catalog. I also bought scales of laminated "rosewood burgundy" and I made it on a cheap harbor freight 10 x 30 sander. It came out really nice and I gave it to my son. I bought several more blades and made them in exotic hardwoods and gave them to my friends. I bought a drill press and band saw and a buffer and started making more of them. They were attractive and useful knives. I began drilling the tangs with tungsten carbide drills and fitting nickel silver bolsters. Finally I decided to take the plunge and bought a KMG and began buying various attachments and I have now made and sold over three hundred one of a kind knives. I get a little better every year and have learned a ton from this forum. My opinion is that you go ahead and buy a blade and finish the scales and pin the blade and learn a little about finishing wood and see if you really like this. Then if you do buy a drill press, portaband saw and stand, wood cutting band saw and buffer. Buy the best sandpaper and drills that you can afford and then think about a professional quality grinder if you really want to have some fun. Larry
 
Gendry, I just bought about $600 worth of supplies from USAKM. They're good people. Always very helpful when I call with questions. They also have a physical store front. Tracy own knifedogs.com, another knife forum. Believe me when I say, you can trust them.
 
Knife blanks are an excellent way to start , attaching scales and shaping them is kind of a learning curve and will give you some skills you can use in your future knives. Later when you start grinding is another big learning curve, then comes the heat treating , polishing , sharpening ,,,,, and lastly leather work , all in all a very rewarding hobby ,,,, just don't be in a hurry. I am not fast but i think my first knives i might have had 50 or more hours in , but as i got the right tools, and knew what i needed to do time shortened way up,
 
On your handle question try it with the handle material further forward and so it curves to the rear as it goes down if that makes sense. See if you like it better that way. The curve of the front of your handle would be upside down for most. Reverse it in your drawing and see if it looks better to you.
 
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