Sidearms & Scatterguns My first batch of knives

Hawk45

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 29, 2002
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Ohio
So after about 4 months of learning and messing up a bunch of blades, I finally put out my first 6 that I'm pretty happy with. I started out about a year ago with files and a single piece of 1084. Quite tedious, which is something I'm not good with, so have to work on that if I want to put out better product. I ended up getting a Craftsman 2x42 a few months back and learned how to use that fast little motor (I still suck, but learning every piece). Anyway, it's been a fun journey and I love, designing, and grinding as time allows at night and on weekends. Great hobby. These will all be staying with me or going to friends as gifts. My goal is to make some that are of high enough quality to sell so I can upgrade equipment. Just keep putting the $$ back into the hobby.

Specs:
These are all made out of 1084 flat bar stock of various thickness from 3/16" to 1/4". Handle material is G10, micarta and iron wood. I wanted to try all the handle materials and see what I liked/didn't about each and how easy they were to work with. I found G10 to be the easiest to work with followed by micarta then the iron wood (couldn't use the belt grinder and had to use rasp and hand sanding to get the shape). I really like convex edges so that's what I went with. All are razor sharp, I have the bloody band-aids to prove it. Some of the designs came from existing knives I like and made some tweeks. I wanted to try different shapes and see what works and what doesn't so well with the equipment setup I have, so I made a diverse bunch. Heat treat done by Peterson Heat Treaters, great people to deal with and fast.

Tools used:
Craftsman 2x42 (added glass platten), Cheap-O Harbor Freight 5 speed drill press, angle grinder, Dremel, hand files/rasps

Belts:
60 grit Blaze to shape, 120 grit Blaze to refine, 220 Gator pre-heat treat, post-heat treat and to put on edge, 400 Gator on some to get nicer finish. Handles done with 120 Blaze and 220 Gators. Handles polished with JB Bore Paste and Dremel buffer.

Anyway, thanks for looking, feedback is always welcome.

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Re: My first batch of knives

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jdh4376</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How long is that knife in first pic on top.</div></div>

Just under 24" overall. My version of the Golok chopper.
 
Re: My first batch of knives

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: HonkeyMcGee88</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Looks like your on the right track, I would be interested whenever you decide to sell some.</div></div>

Thanks brother, I'll let you know when ready to move some.
 
Re: My first batch of knives

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ggmanning</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That wood handled ome at the bottom would be a fine skinning blade.</div></div>

That's actually micarta, but does have that wood look. Need to get some red linen micarta, would look great on that blade.
 
Re: My first batch of knives

Thanks guys. I appreciate all the supportive feedback.

I'll try to get some pics of my gear up and some process pics. As I finish up new ones I'll post.

Fitz, yeah, I made that for our annual Freezout camping trip coming up in January. I'm going to do a new one each year moving forward to commemorate the good times. It's a 14.5" overall with a 9" edge.

Here are a few more pics of some of the file work I did for jimping on a few.

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Re: My first batch of knives

Thanks guys.

Well, time is the biggest factor for getting a line together. I'm doing this as a hobby so when time allows, I hit the grinder. Next I have to come up with a few designs, then maybe I'll start doing small batches and see how they are received. Still need to get some good stainless and see how it works (154CM, S30/35V, maybe some other high end steels).
 
Re: My first batch of knives

Those look great love the blue handled one at the bottom of the top pic. Looks like a good tough knife. I have a buddy that dabbles in this some more regrinding edges than building though. It looks like you are well on your way hope to read about you in blade one day. Good luck.
 
Re: My first batch of knives

Few new ones I finished up 95% yesterday. A few clean-up items left but thought I'd throw them up. I found a good process to put a real nice dark gray patina on the carbon steel (Clean the metal with alchohal very well, then don't touch again or get oil on, heat up white vinegar and drop them in shaking with tongs ever so often).

The green one is one a buddy wanted for skinning deer. The orange one is my "Bengals" blade for the playoffs (HA!!).

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Re: My first batch of knives

I'd like to see some of the first ones in the learning curve. I read a post on here about using saw blades, so I attempted to make one out of a 10" miter saw blade with a Dremel and angle grinder. It's sharp, but looks more like something you would find in a prison cell than your kitchen!
 
Re: My first batch of knives

USMCDAD, I've not decided yet. I'll do a necker and maybe 2 other designs. What they will be is still up in the air. I'm talking to a water jet guy now, it may be easier/cheaper in the long run to have them do my blanks off my designs. Then just order a stack when ready. I do enjoy the creative process though and will always do one-offs for fun.

Hondo,
I ordered a piece of Aldo's (NJ Steel Barron) 1084. I think I got a 4ft long x 1" wide x 1/8" thick piece and a few more widths and thicknesses. It costs the same to send if you get 1 or 6 pieces, so I get a few extra while I was at it. I used files on the annealed steel to get the shape and a small HF drill press to do the holes. It was a small necker, but I broke it trying to straighten it after a local heat treat. My fault, I took too much material out of the middle while trying to make it look cool and it warped in heat treat. After all the time I put in with the files, I decided to get the 2x42 Craftsman and some good belts from online (Blaze & Gators). I made up some designs and learned how to use the grinder. That sucker is FAST.. you really have to move quick or you eat off too much or burn up a tip (or your fingers). It's not optimal, but with practice it's amazing what you can get used to. I plan to upgrade to a better grinder down the line as a slower speed and more power make all the difference. Moving so fast, mistakes are easy if you get tired or even flinch or hit an angle wrong. That being said, it's a great starting platform for minimal cost to see if it's for you. What I can make with files is not near as nice as with a grinder (with the time I have). Start by getting a good annealed steel so it is easy to work with. Uses files or get the craftsman 2x42 (there are lots of simple mods out there). Get a few good belts (2 of each, 80, 120, 220ish, 320ish, 400ish). Cut off a piece of steel with a hand grinder or hacksaw. Draw a shape, belt grind it out with the 80gt (90 degree angles are your friend). Make a jig or hand do your plunges. Leave about a dime thick edge. Send to a heat treater (I use Peterson's in VA - probably $15-$25 to do a single blade. Once back, clean off the heat treat slag get all shinny again (120 & 220 gt). Get some handle material (wood, micarta, G10 - get a good 3M respirator 7000 series or better with P100 cartridges MINIMUM - DON'T SKIMP HERE). Put on your handles (pre-fit and initial grind before you glue and final grind). Put on final edge and done. Use some carbon steel to start (1075, 1084, 1095). If you want a nice patina (good protective rust) heat up some white vinegar and drop the whole knife in and watch it bubble. When dark black (15 mins or so) pull out and rise in water. Then get a good coat of oil or WD40 on it. Touch up edge and done.

Then get some Kydex.. haha.. kidding.
 
Re: My first batch of knives

I have made several knives myself and you sir do a very nice job. I made mine mostly out of armor plating with limited tools. something I did notice tho is that you can still see some working marks on them... if you want a little bit of 2000 grit sandpaper does wonders and will shine with a high gloss.
 
Re: My first batch of knives

your latest batch is sweet too. the larger of the two in the last picture with the green micarta is sweet too!!! let me know when you're selling!!
 
Re: My first batch of knives

Spence, Yeah, these have just been taken down to 400 grit. Since they are the first batch and probably staying with me for testing I didn't over do-it on the finish work.

Thanks for all the comments. I'll keep everyone posted if I do a small production run batch. Maybe I can do a knife for Hide memebers down the road.
 
Re: My first batch of knives

Thanks for the compliments everyone. It's been challenging getting out in the 20 degree weather. I'll try to get some 1095 blanks together this weekend in a few designs.
 
Re: My first batch of knives

beautiful craftsmanship. I have a friend who does similar work, its definitely a dying art!

Keep up the good work, there was a time when everything was handmade, individually, one at a time.
 
Re: My first batch of knives

Thanks for all the comments again guys. Just chopped up 8 more blanks yesterday. Still deciding which model to do a short run of in 1/4" thick stock.
 
Re: My first batch of knives

Only one year? Really? That is some nice work for one year and the bare minimum for tools! Definitely PM me when you make some more, I'd be interested to help you further your hobby.

I like the small micarta handle knife, but they all are nice!
 
Re: My first batch of knives

im no knife maker, just a complete enthusiast. my first love was knives, even before guns. hope you're enjoying your creations. let me know if you need someone to test drive them for you!!!
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Re: My first batch of knives

Thanks again everyone for the comments. Profiled a few yesterday, but won't have time to get to bevels till next week probably. Cheers!
 
Thought I'd update this thread with a few more recent ones I've finished. Every one try to get a little better.

One I did for buddy who is a LEO/SWAT member. Matches his uniform.

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One I did for another buddy.

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Few friction folders

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Necker

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