Who has built a knife?

[blgoode]

I am toying with the idea of building a large fixed blade knife. Where would I get steel and how to's? Idi have access to old saw blade steel. I have heard this can be used?

 

[Matches]

Spend some time in the shoptalk and bladesmithing forum. I am finishing up my first one and have learned a great deal,but I'm still very much a newbie. Blacksmithing skills,which can be picked-up fairly easily are critical

 

[Keith Montgomery]

Matches gave you excellent advice. Also check out CKD Forums, KnifeForums, USN, Don Fogg's knife forum that you can get to from his site, and whatever other knife forums that have sections devoted to knifemaking.

There also lots of books that will help you get started. Here is a place to look.

http://www.knifeworld.com/knifhow.html

You can also check out Amazon.com

 

[Pistolpete]

I used this tutorial by Jerry Hossum and it has helped a lot. It has been over 8 months in progress but I am finally getting close to the end. I used 1084 steel and all hand tools and files except for a power drill to drill some holes. I heat treated on the grill with mesquite wood and my shop vac for a blower. I'm sure the neighbors were wondering what the crazy redneck next door was doing but it has been a lot of fun to do this project. It won't win any awards but I will appreciate this knife a lot. Good luck!

http://www.knifeforums.com/ubbthrea...=218543&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

 

[Matches]

I saved that tutorial to my documents as well and referred to it as I progressed along each step. I know what you mean about the neighbors. I did allot of sanding outside to save my computer from inhaling it. Towards the end I kept a cover over the blade so the neighbors wouldn't get scared and I wouldn't get stabbed

 

[T. Erdelyi]

4 knives so far, actually 3 knive and 1 letter opener.

1 was a kit knife from Daryl Ralph, and the other 3 straight knives/fixed blades.

I can only echo the sentiments in the replies before mine, ask questions on those sites, and if you have a custom maker near you, phone him up and ask for help, odds are he'll invite you down to his shop.

All these guys are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet and I've never met one who didn't help out.

 

[Wotan]

I`ve just made 1 knife from scratch. I made the blade from an old cold sawblade(metalsaw)and the handle from birch. But I have made several knives from fabric made blades. Currently I`m making a large camp knife. I bought a 8 inch saami knife blade and I`m making the handle of epoxy reinforced with jute. Maybe I`ll post some pics later.

 

[Bruz]

Completed 2 knives and working on 3 more...just made a forge and a burner (almost as fun as making the knife!) so I'll be trying to do my first heat treat on the 3 blades I'm working on.

If you are just getting into it you should consider buying a kit, my first knife was a kit and I have 4 more kits waiting, but there is not anything beter than getting a hunk of steel and turning it into a tool.