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Main Boards => Hunting Knives and Crafters => Topic started by: 4est trekker on June 27, 2010, 09:25:00 PM

Title: First Knives
Post by: 4est trekker on June 27, 2010, 09:25:00 PM
I finally decided to take a "stab" at knife making.  I wanted to make a reproduction of my favorite little neck knife.  So, I made a small forge with two pans, a pop can, and a blow dryer:

   (http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Knives%20and%20Metalwork/HPIM3980.jpg)

   (http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Knives%20and%20Metalwork/HPIM3979.jpg)


I cut two blades out of an old saw blade.  I tested the steel by heating one of the teeth of the blade, quenching it, then snapping off the tooth in the vise.  Here's one of the blades just before going into the forge:

   (http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Knives%20and%20Metalwork/HPIM3977-1.jpg)


After heating until they were non-magnetic, I quenched them in oil.  I cleaned them up a bit, put them in the oven for an hour at 400 degrees, and then let them cool.  Then I put them back in the oven and repeated the process.  

The top one has wenge and rock maple scales while the bottom is of cocobola.  Both have some file work, but it's not very clear in the pictures.  I haven't honed the cutting edge on either one.  I didn't sand or polish the blades because I wanted to replicate the original (shown in the second picture below).

   (http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Knives%20and%20Metalwork/HPIM3982.jpg)

   (http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Knives%20and%20Metalwork/HPIM3987.jpg)

   (http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Knives%20and%20Metalwork/HPIM3986.jpg)


I made my own rivets out of copper tubing and brass rod.  Here's how they came out:

   (http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae321/isaacscr/Knives%20and%20Metalwork/HPIM3990.jpg)


Thanks for looking!  Sorry the pictures are blurry...my camera isn't the best.
Title: Re: First Knives
Post by: terencerobert on June 27, 2010, 10:07:00 PM
Apparently one does not need expensive supplies to have a forge and create a personal knife. After seeing shops filled with equipment and longing to get started, you burst my $$$ bubble.  You did a great job replicating the knife.  I like the look of the second knife best. Thanks for introducing some simplicity to the knack of knifemaking.  Glory and honor and praise belongs to Jesus Christ.
Title: Re: First Knives
Post by: wv lungbuster on June 27, 2010, 10:14:00 PM
Great job, love the shape of the blades.
Title: Re: First Knives
Post by: sticshooter on June 27, 2010, 10:18:00 PM
Bro ya done a great Job.But i knew ya could do it<><
Title: Re: First Knives
Post by: Reggie Catfish on June 27, 2010, 10:42:00 PM
You should be proud- those are awesome knives.  And like Terry said- you didn't need a shop for of expensive tools, you made it work with what you had.
Title: Re: First Knives
Post by: Scott Roush on June 29, 2010, 06:50:00 AM
very nice.... i like the pin idea...
Title: Re: First Knives
Post by: prarieboy on June 29, 2010, 01:37:00 PM
Cool all the way around great craftmanship and recyled too!
Title: Re: First Knives
Post by: Steve Nuckels on June 30, 2010, 05:44:00 PM
Fantastic!!!!!!

Steve
--------
Potomac Forge
Title: Re: First Knives
Post by: skullworks on June 30, 2010, 06:53:00 PM
Wow!!!!   :eek:

Awesome work!!!!   :notworthy:    :notworthy:
Title: Re: First Knives
Post by: 4est trekker on June 30, 2010, 07:51:00 PM
Thanks for the kind comments, guys.  I appreciate them.  Thanks also to sticshooter for all his help (and encouragement).
Title: Re: First Knives
Post by: skillet on June 30, 2010, 08:38:00 PM
Dude! Those are great knives! Cleverly done and very stylish. Did you test the edges for hardness after the temper? Great design and the minimal file work is perfect for this kind of knife.

Rick
Title: Re: First Knives
Post by: 4est trekker on June 30, 2010, 10:09:00 PM
Yeah, I did test the blades.  I tried a few time-tested methods like the 1/4" brass rod and...didn't have a clue what I was doing! LOL  So, I followed sticshooter's advice and sharpened it so it would shave hair, whittled and hacked the snot out of some oak for awhile, and then tested it on my arm again...still shaved hair.  That's good enough for me!
Title: Re: First Knives
Post by: Stiks-n-Strings on July 01, 2010, 08:47:00 AM
Awsome knives 4est. You can do it all can't you LOL
Title: Re: First Knives
Post by: Caveman IL on July 01, 2010, 10:50:00 AM
Very neat knives & homemade forge!! Larry
Title: Re: First Knives
Post by: walkabout on July 01, 2010, 11:01:00 AM
very nice, great job replicating the necker.
Title: Re: First Knives
Post by: SveinD on July 01, 2010, 02:55:00 PM
Love the blade shape! Beautiful knives!
Title: Re: First Knives
Post by: Lewis Brookshire III on July 01, 2010, 05:30:00 PM
Awesome!
Title: Re: First Knives
Post by: bjansen on July 19, 2010, 10:44:00 PM
Nice job 4est!
Title: Re: First Knives
Post by: AZ_Shooter on July 21, 2010, 12:14:00 PM
Great knives!

I would love to see a build-a-long, similar with what you have done in the bowyer's forum.
Title: Re: First Knives
Post by: Chris Surtees on July 21, 2010, 02:54:00 PM
:thumbsup:     :thumbsup: