Your very First Knife

[aj1985]

Hey everyone hope everythings copacetic

Now I'm preparing to make my first knife ever. I was hoping to ask the many makers here of posting a pic and a description of their first ever Knife that they made. Just very interested, and would like to see what is the first Knife that they produced when starting out in the begining, and also have you kept it after all these years. Has it become one of those pieces for you that are truly priceless.

take care and I look forward to seeing your pictures and reading your posts.

aj

 

[Fiddleback]

Don't laugh. This was my first 3. Made from files. Just over a year ago.

 

[aj1985]

Don't laugh. This was my first 3. Made from files. Just over a year ago.

The handles are so smooth eh. Could I ask how long did it take for you to complete the knives.


aj

 

[Kiwi303]

heres mine. annealed in a wood fire in the ashes, rough forged hot, let to cool in the ashes again and most of the finishing done by cold working while annealed, very little grinding needed, which was good since I have only a floor sander.
Kanuka firewood handle, 8 gauge soft fencing wire pins. From a 5160 leaf spring

 

[CShepherd]

This was my first. Made from a Nicholson file, annealed in a small forge I built from a section of a 120mm mortar tube (built with help from Darren Ellis). Handle is red oak trim from Lowes (cost 94 cents for 4 feet). Took me probably 10 hours total. I don't have the best of equipment either. Used a cheap 1x30 grinder from Harbor Freight to do the bevels. The contour was done with a 6" bench grinder and a dremel tool. It was a lot of fun and I have since built 2 and 3 and am finishing #4.

My best advice is to just jump right in. There is tons of information here on the forums and the makers here are more than willing to answer any questions you might have.

Charles

 

[Robert_Phelps]

Here's mine. 1095, stock removal (hacksaw, files, sandpaper wrapped around things, etc), and handled with some American ironwood (Carpinus caroliniana, not the fancy stuff). It was a grafting knife.

 

[724wd]

my first (and only). 5160, based on a bechmade resistor. done by cutting the profile with drill bits, then filing. i did a bit on a 12 inch disc sander, then i bought a 1x42 and did the final after heat treat (with bruce bump's assistance). still working on what finish i want on it. probably end up with mustard/lemon juice patina. i recently cut out 2, 3 and 4. working on getting belts and discs to make it easier! lots of fun!

 

[penls]

wow these all beat my first try the first time I tried forging a blade all I got was a tactical icepick :barf:

 

[CShepherd]

wow these all beat my first try the first time I tried forging a blade all I got was a tactical icepick :barf:

But you never know when those icebergfascist terrorists might attack and you will really need that tactical icepick.

Charles

 

[J.McDonald Knives]

guess ill post mine. dont laugh at it. i made it out of 1080 @ 1.5"x1/8". of course thats not how wide the blade ended up. the handle is red linen micarta @ 1/8". the pins are .091" brazing rod and the epoxy is flex coat (rod building, fly tying, and lure making epoxy). i cut out a rough profile with a 4" angle grinder and used a bench grinder to clean it up. then i used a 1x30 i got from harbor freight for the rest of the profile and for the bevels and edge. used a drill press from harbor freight i think. got it from grandpa. heat treated it in my forge i built with the help of Indian George (over the phone and online tutorial) and supplies from Darren Ellis and got it tuned to the right atmosphere for heat treating with the help of IG and Darren Ellis. my first knife had a bunch of "ooopsies" from hitting it with the belt grinder. heres the pics.

this knife was made with the help of the knowledgable Stacy Apelt, IG, and alot of the others on here and thru reading books like $50 Knife Shop by Wayne Goddard.

 

[T-BAG]

my first (and only). 5160, based on a bechmade resistor. done by cutting the profile with drill bits, then filing. i did a bit on a 12 inch disc sander, then i bought a 1x42 and did the final after heat treat (with bruce bump's assistance). still working on what finish i want on it. probably end up with mustard/lemon juice patina. i recently cut out 2, 3 and 4. working on getting belts and discs to make it easier! lots of fun!

WICKED LITTLE BLADE...I LIKE IT

 

[Beile]

Mine started out like this, then I wasn't happy with it so I changed it, now I want to change it back but I haven't gotten that good yet. Tennis raquet handle and nuclear powerplant cooling fan steel. Another note, I haven't kept it all these years, more like all these weeks.

 

[Fiddleback]

The handles are so smooth eh. Could I ask how long did it take for you to complete the knives.


aj

Took me a day in the shop for each. I did them un-annealed on a 6" bench grinder. Then drew them down in a 400 degree oven. It took longer to grind them without heating the steel. Had to cool it immediately every time it was hot to the touch. While time consuming, it allowed me to make my first few without having any equipment except a 6" bench grinder, sandpaper, and a drill press.

 

[calamari26]

My first foray into knifemaking
3/32 s30v blade
buckeye burl handle
nickle silver pins and tube

Ryan

 

[clw3]

I started this one and about halfway through I took an "intro to knifemaking" class where we finished a knife during class. The knife I made in the class is well hidden, but this one came out pretty nice. I think since I started this one first, then technically, it's my first knife.

hand filed 1095
bocote handles with white liners
316 stainless pins, thong tube, and bolster
overall length - 7.75"

 

[LRB]

This was my first. I must have put a hundred hours in this knife. Made from a Nicholson file with advise from Pete Hamilton of Randall Knives in 1971.

 

[MSCantrell]

I still USE this lil guy, too.

 

[JB Knives]

This is my first blade, made by request for my left- handed best friend.
440-c, h.t. by Paul Bos, black linen micarta, and red liners.Razor sharp!
Luckily for me, I was able to practice grinding with scrap aluminum barstock from my job before I moved to an actual piece of steel- otherwise, it wouldn't have been pretty.
www.jbknives.biz

 

[GibsonFan]

This was my first. I must have put a hundred hours in this knife. Made from a Nicholson file with advise from Pete Hamilton of Randall Knives in 1971.

That's absolutely classic. My first-I'm-willing-to-admit-to isn't done yet, but I have a big ol' Simonds file with "bowie" written all over it...

 

[Whoever Wherever]

O1 tool steel, black canvas micarta handles, brass bolsters and pins. It got a home style cryo (acetone and dry ice). It has some use marks on the bolsters and handles now. I need to make a light box, bad. My second knife turned out alot better.