Sidearms & Scatterguns Homemade cutlery.

[desertrat1979]

I have been toying with the idea of getting into making edged weapons as a hobby. I am somewhat educated in handling steel, tempering, ect... I am just curious if anyone else here ventures down this road. Any personal experiences you care to share? Not looking into making it a buisness or anything. Mostly for myself, family and friends. I have several ideas, and looked into some places that supply materials for something like this. If you got pix I'd love to see em.

 

[ukshooter]

Re: Homemade cutlery.

I make knife as an hobby,but i limit my self to maybe 2 knifes a year.
Once you start it an addiction,so youth been warmed.
The easiest way to get started is buy blade blanks,and just fit the handle.
Making your own blades is the other way,but it takes time.
It took me 40 hours to make a complete knife this way.

A good book to buy is Wayne Goddard's $50 Knife Shop.
http://www.amazon.com/Wayne-Goddards-50-Knife-Shop/dp/0873419936
Here knife I made as gift for a friend.

 

[armydog]

Re: Homemade cutlery.

I hand forge knives and axe's here are two. I forge them on an Anvil and heated in a coal forge just like they did 200 years ago, I get around 125.00 to 225.00 for the knife and 100.00 to 150.00 for an Axe depending on size, you can knock out a knife in a day if you keep at it.

 

[desertrat1979]

Re: Homemade cutlery.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ukshooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I make knife as an hobby,but i limit my self to maybe 2 knifes a year.
Once you start it an addiction,so youth been warmed.
The easiest way to get started is buy blade blanks,and just fit the handle.
Making your own blades is the other way,but it takes time.
It took me 40 hours to make a complete knife this way.

A good book to buy is Wayne Goddard's $50 Knife Shop.
http://www.amazon.com/Wayne-Goddards-50-Knife-Shop/dp/0873419936
Here knife I made as gift for a friend.

</div></div>

WOW! That looks beautiful. I wouldn't want to use that on anything. The other two look really good to. I like the wood grain in the handles. Anyone else care to share? I have been looking into some of the kits and blanks. Not looking into doing a whole lot of hammer forging. I think the noise would definately make me less popular in the neighborhood. I could see using some old school methods mixed with newer methods.

I was thinking using some of the plate stock and a bandsaw to rough the shape. Using a belt sander/files to get the contours and edges. But those also give ideas of maybe a custom mark to tag my work.

Anyone got anymore, or some other experiences to share?

 

[Schleifalot]

Re: Homemade cutlery.

Hi there,

about 20years ago I started with the same intention as you......

steel is a very addictive substance, be warned!

A very good adress for materials is
http://www.alphaknifesupply.com/default.htm

Chuck Bybee and his fellows are great

For beginning start with low alloy steel like 52100, it is forgiving in all stages. And cheap...

Full tang grips are easy to make and the strongest design. I prefer Micarta and G10, nearly undestroyable under normal circumstances. Use a good breath-filtermask, the dust is unhealthy.

For my blades I prefer stainless steel, it is very anoing when your knife rusts dull in the sheath.
RWL 34 was a long time my favourite, a powdermetallurgical made ATS34 steel. Also calles 154 CPM.
Now I prefer SB1, a German steel alloy especially for blades. It has 0,8% C, 12,7% Cr, 1,1% Mo, 0,9% V, 0,7% Nb. From all the stuff I used (52100, 420, 440B, s90v, s60v, Supracor, Talonite, Elmax, A2, D2 ...) SB1 works best for me.

Look at bladeforums.com, there is a ton of info for knifemakers.

Here in this thread over in our German blade forum I have some pictures of my knives. Ther I'm Schleifalot as well

http://www.messerforum.net/showthread.php?t=89446
http://www.messerforum.net/showthread.php?t=77235

This days I finished my first titanium framelock folder. A new dimension of addiction started....
Carbon fiber, titanium, SB1....

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: Homemade cutlery.

I would be honored to make you grips if you should desire.