What's Your Thougts on Knife Kits??

[Nalapombu]

Hey all,

I have been thinking of trying one of the knife kits from Texas Knifemaker to kinda get my feet wet and see what is involved in making a knife. Some of the kits they have really look like they would make a nice knife, but the problem I see is that they don't have any finished pics to show what the knife MIGHT look like when completed. When someone like me, that has NEVER made a knife, looks at a blade that is already partially done but without the grip or handle, I don't have any idea as to what it should look like when done. I don't have that experience available to me. All I see is a blade with a tang that has a threaded end on it that is supposed to take some kind of retaining nut to secure the grip.

I'm not saying that this dissuades me from trying one, I would just need at least some type of plan to work toward so I would know if I was totally off base or on track to end up with a decent knife.

Are there any places that you all can point me to where I can see some examples of knives that people have finished from some of these kits?

As to the quality of the kits. What do you all think about them? Are these kits decent quality or primarily junk? Are these kits a good way for someone like me to get a start? Let me know what you think and your thoughts about these kits that are available.

Thanks for your time and help.

Nala

 

[t1mpani]

I know this sounds less than helpful, but there really is no right and wrong for how it's supposed to look---you're the maker, it's up to you. My suggestion would be to look at the books that they sell and try one out. I've had this one for a long time, and though it's talking about making one absolutely from scratch, the information in there about construction methods and finishing techniques is absolutely valid for what you're trying to do. Plus, it's reasonably picture-intensive so you're not just trying to envision what he's talking about.

http://www.texasknife.com/vcom/product_info.php?cPath=51_859&products_id=457

They use a few different steels in their kits, and of course some are better than others depending on what you want the knife to do. Any of them will make you a perfectly suitable cutting tool, and you'll have fun putting them together. I can pretty much guarantee that once you finish your first one, you'll like it....but there'll be two or three things about it that you'll wish you'd done slightly differently. Enter the second one. Don't get in a hurry, and your confidence will build quickly through doing it.