My First Knife

[RickAf]

Hi Everyone

I have always loved knives, since I was a kid, always having one or other pocket knife, and later a couple of different hunting knives. The first time I saw custom handmade knives was about 20 or so years ago, at the time I was competing in Practical Pistol shooting (IPSC) and every gun show I would go to the custom knifemakers were there, and I used to look at their knives and wish I could own one, and even more that I could actually do this and make one. I found a book on Knifemaking, however it seemed to require all sorts of machinery which I didn't have, and there was also no ready source of information and assistance such as this forum, so I ended up shelving the book and leaving it to dreams.

About 6 months ago I came across a document on the web titled "The Absolute Cheapskate way to start making knives - by Scott Jones" and I decided that now was the time to give it a go. I couldn't find a supplier of the 5160 spring steel mentioned in the document, so after finding details of a local knife club I sent them an email and got a nice reply explaining where to find Knife steel (Bohler N690) and hardwood handle materials etc, and an invitation to come to the club sometime.

I bought myself a piece of Bohler N690 (440C), some African Ironwood, brass brazing rods, epoxy sandpaper etc and set to work following the Cheapskate tutorial. I drew up a design, made a template out of plastic, and cut the steel into rough shape - initially with a hacksaw, but halfway through I switched to a small handheld angle grinder with a steel cutting disc (this gave me some filing problems after the fact - with a couple of areas having hardened due to the heat generated by the cutting disc). Once it was roughed out, I filed the edge profile into shape, and then got started on filing the blade bevels etc. I decided to add a guard, and scrounged some brass from an old Sliding door hasp, I ended up using JB weld and pins to attach the guard since the only low temperature (Eutectic Alloys) solder I could find locally was very expensive (+/- R1000 for a roll of solder and some flux). After a couple of months of work (weekends and some evenings) I finished it, having sanded the blade to 1000grit, I then polished the blade using a mini buffing wheel in my hand drill.

What do you think











Since this one I have not made any more knives yet, but have spent the past couple of months building a KMG grinder, which I have posted in another thread (http://www.britishblades.com/forums/...My-new-Grinder). Now that its finished I will get back to making knives.


Rick

[Greenbeast]

Very tidy piece, how did you heat treat the stainless?

[RickAf]

Hi Greenbeast

Sorry I forgot to mention that. I took the completed blade back to Bohler for hardening. They have a Vaccuum furnace Heat Treating facility. The blade was hardened to 59/60Rc and I tempered it in my oven at home, 2x 1hour at 200 deg C.

Rick

[Damask]

very nice!!!!!
look forward to seeing more!

[Greenbeast]

Hi Greenbeast

Sorry I forgot to mention that. I took the completed blade back to Bohler for hardening. They have a Vaccuum furnace Heat Treating facility. The blade was hardened to 59/60Rc and I tempered it in my oven at home, 2x 1hour at 200 deg C.

Rick

Cool, thanks

[megalift]

Your design shows an in-depth understanding of what a 'useful' knife should be. Really good first effort, and a nice knife in general.

Don't make the mistake of selling it! Your 1st knife will have lots of sentimental value in the future as you improve.

Keep it up - You have a talent!

[scrubber]

That's a very fine knife you made there. Love the "fatter" handles and the finger choil. Well done! Must be very comfortable and safe to use.

[RickAf]

Hi Guys

Thank you very much for the feedback, I really appreciate that you guys took the time to leave a comment.
I am a bit surprised that with around 150 views so far only 4 people have been kind enough to leave a comment.

@Megalift - I'm not sure about the "In-depth understanding"? I do, do a lot of cooking, so I use knives fairly often, however I just made it so it looked good and felt comfortable to me.

I have a couple of blade blanks cut out and I am busy with a couple more, I should be getting some grinding belts for my new grinder today, so I should be able to get down to grinding this weekend. Hopefully I will have more to post soon.

Thanks again
Rick

[John56]

That's a really elegant looking knife Rick, well done. It's nice to see a full flat grind too............
Cheers, John.

[mahoosive]

Lovely job for a first knife, or any for that matter. I am sure that many of us would be proud to have made that

[Lane]

A job well done, especially for a first one. I like the overall shape of your knife

[Jimi W]

That's a great first knife, looks really solid, did you make the sheath too? I've made a few knives but have yet to make a sheath, I really must get to it...

[Dino Devine]

Hey Rick, thanks for sharing. I like the design and finish.
Bohler steel, I remember them when we lived in SA 25 years ago, what a pleasure to get the steel you want 440c.

[Gizmo]

That's a lovely knife you have made rick and you have inspired me to start clearing out my shed!

[Pegasus]

Hox Rick

Welcome to BB.

If that is the quality of your first knife, you absolutely HAVE to continue with knife making. There are some first class knife makers in SA and the knife show circuit is phenomenal so there will be plenty of opportunity to see other makers work and talk to them. You will find a very interesting and unique phenomenon among knife makers: They will all help you and advise you TO THE BEST OF THEIR ABILITY! Something you wont / dont find that often in other spheres??

Good luck and keep at it

Chris
www.pegasus-knives.com