jim t Posted May 31, 2011 Report Share Posted May 31, 2011 hi lads i want to try making my own knife, il be using it for skinning rabbits mainly, i was thinking of buying a blade like this http://www.knifekits.com/vcom/product_info.php?cPath=2_287&products_id=1499 What else will i need? i know il need some material for a handle but what exactly is needed to make the knife? when i get the blade do i just cut the material to the shape of the handle? do i need pins etc to keep it in place sorry for the stupid questions im totally new to knife making. basically i need a step by step guide to doing this job jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pat 1 Posted May 31, 2011 Report Share Posted May 31, 2011 http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/694673-How-to-instructions-for-making-a-knife Google it there are hundreds of sites with instructions and forums. Pat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul T Posted May 31, 2011 Report Share Posted May 31, 2011 hi lads i want to try making my own knife, il be using it for skinning rabbits mainly, i was thinking of buying a blade like this http://www.knifekits.com/vcom/product_info.php?cPath=2_287&products_id=1499 What else will i need? i know il need some material for a handle but what exactly is needed to make the knife? when i get the blade do i just cut the material to the shape of the handle? do i need pins etc to keep it in place sorry for the stupid questions im totally new to knife making. basically i need a step by step guide to doing this job jim Hello Jim It's not that tricky and anyone with a modicum of DIY skills can do it - even me . I have to say I've only made the one so far, but it came out really well. See here clicky. Hopefully you can see from the progress photos how I did mine (I did that deliberately to help others) but to answer your question: Besides the blade you'll need some (brass?) rod for the pins, hardwood for the scales and maybe a liner sheet - that's all! There's some very nice wood on Fleabay for the scales, but I have loads laying about here. The blank you show is also drilled for a bolster, but I wouldn't confuse the issue with that at the mo. So in 7 easy steps: 1. Draw roughly round your template on the scales and drill through for the pins. Make sure the scales are perfectly flat by rubbing them on a flat surface of emery paper. 2. Drill/cut through the liner and again cut roughly to shape. 3. Cut the pins a bit long and dry fit the knife together. 4. Shape the scales with a dremel/sander/rasp/file/emery paper until you are happy with the profile. 5. Mark the pins and cut so they are fractionally proud of the scale surface and drag a couple of ridges in the sides for 'keying' in the epoxy. 6. Apply epoxy adhesive (araldite) to the holes (and maybe a little to surfaces) and clamp tight between two pieces of card in a vice. Leave for 24 hours. 7. Rub down the pins flush with emery paper and wire wool, then buff up with some gun stock oil. As I said, this was my first, so other more experienced makers may be able to add some other tips? Best of luck . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antlerman Posted May 31, 2011 Report Share Posted May 31, 2011 i have pm'd you mate and im happy to help you out with anything. many thanks alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbaz Posted June 14, 2011 Report Share Posted June 14, 2011 COR!!! Paul, Your bushknife looks gorgeous- well done for a first attempt B) B) I'm really going to have to get my new shed erected as the old one had to be taken down before it collapsed :blush: Trouble is that everything from the shed is in my garage so I can't get to the bench and tools I have some matierials at the ready... I've loads of antler and horn, along with brass and stainless steel for bolsters, spacers and pins- just no room to make them :( I have the very same blade awaiting a handle Good luck with your first build Jim John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidney505 Posted June 14, 2011 Report Share Posted June 14, 2011 (edited) I've just finished my first one (Hidden tang, brass bloster then onto a layer of antler then a brass spacer next a walnut section followed by another brass spacer and finally a bit of antler to finish). I found British blades to be the most useful resource as for making it can be a lot easier than ou might imaging expecialy of you decide to buy a pre-made knife blank. All I used to shape mine once the peices where mounted on the tang was a grinder with a P40 flappy sanding disc a file and then grades of sandpaper P100 through to P1200. Good luck I hope it turns out great. Edited June 14, 2011 by Kidney505 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbaz Posted June 14, 2011 Report Share Posted June 14, 2011 Hi again Some really good tutorials here.. Use the menu at the left hand side Cheers, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruitloop Posted June 15, 2011 Report Share Posted June 15, 2011 What steel is best for a blade if I want to make the blade from scratch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted June 15, 2011 Report Share Posted June 15, 2011 With the exception of fruitloop who asks "what steel is best for a blade if he wants to make it from scratch" Aren't you just assembling a knife ? or Fitting a handle ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbaz Posted June 15, 2011 Report Share Posted June 15, 2011 What steel is best for a blade if I want to make the blade from scratch Hi If you want to start making blades then you can use o1 steel which is a 1% carbon that is tempered by oil quenching.. You can buy it in variors sizes and is precision flat ground (you can buy it from Cromwells ) this is fine for grinding your own bevels but if you want to go the whole hog and heat/bash the steel into shape then you can use old files... Here's a couple that I hammered out at work.. Here's a couple of short swords that I hammered out over twenty years ago.. Cheers, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul T Posted June 15, 2011 Report Share Posted June 15, 2011 COR!!! Paul, Your bushknife looks gorgeous- well done for a first attempt B) B) I'm really going to have to get my new shed erected as the old one had to be taken down before it collapsed :blush: Trouble is that everything from the shed is in my garage so I can't get to the bench and tools I have some matierials at the ready... I've loads of antler and horn, along with brass and stainless steel for bolsters, spacers and pins- just no room to make them :( I have the very same blade awaiting a handle Good luck with your first build Jim John Wow, that is quite a little stockpile of materials! Is the dark grey one damascus? I really fancy a bash at one of those, but I'm struggling (time more than anything) with trying to form the sheath for the first knife . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antlerman Posted June 15, 2011 Report Share Posted June 15, 2011 What bits you struggling with Paul ? Many thanks Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruitloop Posted June 15, 2011 Report Share Posted June 15, 2011 will go on cromwel site and have a look fancy a go at demascus myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antlerman Posted June 15, 2011 Report Share Posted June 15, 2011 Yes I second that comment about Cromwell they are a top company with good service, I use them myself all of the time. Many thanks Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbaz Posted June 15, 2011 Report Share Posted June 15, 2011 Hello Paul Yes it's damascus but cheap Indian Damascus, it's quite hard though as I found out when I tried a file on it, it just skated across the steel!!! Here's another bit of damascus billet, this was made in England by a chap over on British Blades called Barmond, it's high quality (can't remember spec offhand but it's in the pack that it came with)it's a Rosette or Cartwheel design, don't ask me how they make the circles in the steel It's had a very light etch and will be etched more heavily once it's shaped and the bevels are ground.. I've a load more timber that i've bought over the years, I also have a load of antler/cow hor/water buffalo/ramshorn etc but I can't get to any of it until I get my new shed erected and half the garage emptied into it John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toogood*10 Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 what is the 3rd pice of wood in the pic the blue/green one looks nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnbaz Posted August 15, 2011 Report Share Posted August 15, 2011 With the exception of fruitloop who asks "what steel is best for a blade if he wants to make it from scratch" Aren't you just assembling a knife ? or Fitting a handle ? Hi Taxi driver Yes, for the most part, if you buy the blades in then it's really just assembling them as someone else is doing the smithing of the blades, it's really down to the individual how much or little of the process he undertakes You could buy one of these and a little furnace and hammer out the blades then grind them on a belt grinder... what is the 3rd pice of wood in the pic the blue/green one looks nice Hi toogood That piece is dyed stabilised burr maple It won't expand/shrink or (hopefully!) crack as it's had wood hardener drawn in through a vacuum process Cheers, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toogood*10 Posted August 15, 2011 Report Share Posted August 15, 2011 thanks i want to have a go at making my own knife im going to try and get my hands on some dyed stabilised burr maple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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