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First blade for sale, Woo Haaa!

Switchblade

Switchblade

muf kin poser
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 21, 2003
5,037
589
A Little South of Bardstown down yonder in them th
I have all the right places in order to go to, to get my business licenses for city and county to make Fire Knives(and blade restoration) a legit business.
This first blade will fund the beginning of a new enterprise in self employment for me. I have been looking at something to do to stay busy. The cigar business was a thought, but was far too expensive up front. With Fire, I can make a little, sell, upgrade, repeat, until I have what I need for full forging production. I can also concentrate on refining what I have been taught by a master bladesmith.
$90 Shipped:

L6 Steel(tough saw blade steel)
OAL: 3.75"
Blade: 1.75", FULL TANG under blacked out wood scales
Hand made
Fire edge treated, heat and cold cycled temper
Ferric Acid, and coffee dipped
Kydex

It is shaving sharp.
 

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Congrats on the new business. Its good to see you back. Best of luck to you, and I hope it takes off like gangbusters for you.
 
good for you going out on your own!
keep us informed of designs and progress.
always have room for a new blade
 
I'll take one if you are selling, just need the details on how you want payment done.
 
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To answer your questions gents:

This is for sale, PM me for details. W54

Hermosa B, specs are edited, I got excited the other day. The wood backdrop is my Sean Haggerty cutting board. He makes those huge thick multi patterned boards. Another member showed me his stuff, and I talked to him, sent him photos of the work space and we made an agreement on I'll send it, if you like it, pay X... I love it and paid as soon as I opened it up that day!

Scott, this is a full tang knife, as in the profile is what you see. The 'tang' is under the scales. What you are thinking of is a tsuba, or guard. The triangular shape, small at the rear, larger up front allows a nice three finger grip. You won't cut a cheesecake with this, but it is so sharp, it will cut a jugular with a puncture, or stick stick stabby stab an arm or leg or gut, or slice a face. This shape has served well for hundreds of years on kaiken, kwaiken, and kiridashi(chisel shape, sharpened on one side only

SP, I do not yet have my stamp. I have spoken to a company who can set it up for about $60 since it is a simple kanji something like -`/\'- or Fire.

DBA, and official paper is more important right now.

These are in works:
2 kaiken(will have blue resin handles)
3 EDC Tanto, G10 ODG/Tan, G10 black, Black Walnut, or whatever I decide for each one

Profile is set on these, kaiken blades are 2/3 still need work, EDC all need blade angles set etc.
 

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Redmanss said:
I'd be down do join in an up front paid pre order special edition run to help get Switch up and running, kickstarter style, and I'm sure I'm far from the only one who would too.
Click to expand...
Great idea!!! A Bearpit, Switchblade plankowner knife. First edition... never to be repeated! We can chip in and buy one for Frank while we are at it! What say everyone? Cheers, Sirhr
 
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It takes me bout 30 to 40 hours per blade. I am using a harbor freight 4x36 sand belt that gets teh shapes profile and blade angles and and finishing takes a lot of time. Before you guys say up front payments for group by, think about how long that GAP rifle took. Each blade I make, even these three EDC Tantos will be different becuase each blade speaks to me in a different way a some point. As I was building my EDC, I was going for a slightly moddded trad finish, then I saw something I liked, got a new idea to repurpose some army stuff, and here I went(photo) Up front, no way I could make the same blade twice even if the scales were the same. Kim is my go to with questions. He spins me up and watches me go becuase I have this inner artist that loves to come out and just do whatever it pleases.
How does one go from traditional to this? Let your inner artist come out and see
Army boot leather, uniform MOS collar device brass circle, take a hanger and make three nails, BAM, MY EDC
Kanuri - otoshi blade (5th gen tanto design)
7" high carbon forged steel
Brass mini tsuba
Walnut under leather handle
Media blasted
This blade was hand made from a 1" x 18" billet, and the leftover was a Panty 6 blade, my very first stock removal blades. She said WTF am I going o do with this?(Yet there it is in he purse, even when she changes them out, clipped onto the inner pockets).
For now, I am happy making what I can as I can.

BUT when I think about kick starting stuff:

$14,000 metal shop
$7500 concrete pad
$500 forge
$500 Anvil (I do have a 1' rail road tie coming)
$1000 Combat Abrasives multi purpose grinder in 72 x 2
Steel, oh so many to choose from(including a box of cut barrels)
Handle supplies(I love some really cool stuff #priceybutrallycool)
You know, stuff to make them

Where would all tat put me if I had it all at once? I'd become a slave to what I'm doing, not that is a bad ting, but no way Icould make the same blade time after time, but I couldmake a few of the same ones as long as I was making what I just looked at a piece of metal and said heyyyy, this is goonaa be cool as fuck! (The two kaikin, wait for them, trust me when I say wicked cool)
PLUS, I still need to design MY version o the combat knife and I m months away from that(but I do have it on paper right now, have ha for a while, needs work, not hapy)
 

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sirhrmechanic said:
I think the artiste himself should design it!

@Switchblade What say you???

Cheers, Sirhr
Click to expand...

Brother, my skills ain't yet double edges! My 'combat blade' is based on a mix of tanto nd wakizashi. 2" x 8" blade on 1/4" stock, 4.25" handle with .25" full tang loop, (handle material not yet picked). Steel? Twisted gun barrel Damascus(san mai of hard steel between gun barrel halves, folded a few times, pounded out and pressed into a square billet, twisted, ponded into working billet...at my skill work, about two years out and equipment wise, well, lots of stuff to upgrade. Dagger design? I DO have thoughts. Very old style mixed with new thoughts...Dreaming is awesome
 
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Switchblade said:
It takes me bout 30 to 40 hours per blade. I am using a harbor freight 4x36 sand belt that gets teh shapes profile and blade angles and and finishing takes a lot of time.
Click to expand...

I think once you get into the flow, you'll be able to cut that about in half, based on the folks I know that have been doing it for some time. Probably by the time you are a year or so into it, you'll easily be doing one in 2 days or less on average.
 
W54/XM-388 said:
I think once you get into the flow, you'll be able to cut that about in half, based on the folks I know that have been doing it for some time. Probably by the time you are a year or so into it, you'll easily be doing one in 2 days or less on average.
Click to expand...


I totally appreciate the motivation and nice comments gents!

I follow a few smith's as well as watch in awe at how fast Kim Breed works. Some 20+ years or so and he blasts stuff out(drill press, machine press, awesome 2x72 adjustable belt grinder/finishing sanders, polishing wheels, yeah, kills it with awesome blades. Between him and some guys on Instagram I follow, I have tons of inspiration as well as motivation. My designs have been seen as 'very nice, keep it up' to 'holy shit dude, you are doing THAT with just …" I take these comments humbly becuase they come from bladesmith's who do stellar work, I mean the stuff I look at and say, wow, this is cool, but me, I would change this or that to make it look more this way...love what I do, and every time I start on a new blade it just goes how it goes til it's done.

$15,000 up front would be ~25 blades. This would purchase forge, anvil, auto hammer, Combat Abrasives belt grinder/sander, band saw, drill press, polisher, supplies, tools, and allow the ability to set up for a wicked looking fighter. My thoughts are Damascus or san mai, 3/16" or <1/4" for weight reduction, 7" blade, Wakazashi/O-Tanto mix at 1.25" with a full tang design, mini oval tsuba. The typical price of a Damascus forged blade runs $100 per inch on quote per more than one forging bladesmith, some much higher at $150 to $200 per inch. A forged san mai machine made tanto with 1st gen blade style and neo trad handle sold for over $600 with it's 6.5" blade.

I seriously have mixed feelings on a big group buy. It would totally put a fire under this business of mine pushing it way faster than I can imagine, but at this time, I have a seriously hard time making a solid statement that what I make would be worth the $450 to $600 price of a big fighter in Damascus and all the cool custom stuff on it like this basic sketch that is stil in need of refinement and whatever it goes through til I'm happy with it:
 

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Damascus would be cool, how would you feel about working with something more for strictly social usage and not as much for display, using something like CPM-3V
 
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One thing you might consider if you decide to do a big group buy type thing.

Get your steel and make your designs, then take it to a really good watercutting place and have them lay out the shapes for the most efficient usage, then cut you out all the rough designs. Then take it back to the shop and get to work.
 
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barneybdb said:
I would be willing to pay up front and wait six months, not sure about shipping to Australia though?
Click to expand...

Probably around $50 minimum to get it to Australia by a good tracked/insured service.

Then just hope the local government is not all on some stupid rampage again.
 
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Redmanss said:
I'd be down do join in an up front paid pre order special edition run to help get Switch up and running, kickstarter style, and I'm sure I'm far from the only one who would too.
Click to expand...
I’m in if @Switchblade wants to take it on.
Prepay is fine if it helps him get set up.
Time is up to him. It’s art, not accounting.
 
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@Switchblade

Ok. Here’s my thoughts, for what they are worth, as I’m not a master knife maker or been trained by one. The only advise I was given by one was, “Do a little more on the finish. Otherwise they are nice.” - the late Ed Chavar. I’m just a master electrician, genius, playboy, billionaire, philanthropist....not a billionaire, but I digress.

Don’t bite off more than you can chew, which you seem it be leaning in that direction already. Smart. Get the 72” with the flat platten and 8” or 10” wheel. Hollow grinds are sexier than flat grinds. The guys, including myself, are interested in a knife. Pick a nice design that’s simple to make and finish. Bang out a bunch of blanks, one day. Take a few days off. Hollow grind the next time out. Take a few days off...see the pattern? When you’ve got a nice little inventory, set them free to wreak havoc on the masses.
 
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I have tried to make a hollow grind with my 4x36...ain't happening. My skills are not yet worthy of a group buy. even if I made a smaller 4" EDC with cool handles, the last one would look ten times better than the first one. For me, they all have to look as close to teh same as possible. These three EDC I am working on right now are going to tell if I can make one design look the same or close. Yes, I have huge dreams thanks to you guys and everyone else. I also know I am still learning, and no way I am going to bite off more than I can chew at this time, even if it sets up a total shop. Putting out a mediocre product that does not meet the standard of Hide Group Buy will not happen. Let me do what I am doing right now, make a few blades, sell, upgrade, make a few more, upgrade, and each blade that comes out will be nicer than the last. When I see a blade that meets group buy standard, I'll first be surprised, then secondly look at it for a week thinking damn, did I do this??? When I look at my work and really think, this is freakin NICE! Then I will be ready to chase that up front group buy.
Redman, the rest of you, I know where you guys started. I was active duty, selling fine cigars, pushing you all like the devil to step out of your comfort zones ang go independent. Now it is my turn. I've already made myself self employed. Now I need to make this little thing a success on my terms, in my time, and take this art I am learning to a higher standard. When my blades look as good as Kim Breed, Mr Eddelman, Niel Kamamura, or Wildcraft, then I'll be ready. Right now, I watch these people grow and do cool things on Instagram, and try to make what I am doing just a little better.
Thank you all for the motivation and kind words, but Fire is not yet ready or skilled enough to do a cool group buy, but damn, it sounds so cool, and dreamlike!
 
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Switchblade said:
I have tried to make a hollow grind with my 4x36...ain't happening. My skills are not yet worthy of a group buy. even if I made a smaller 4" EDC with cool handles, the last one would look ten times better than the first one. For me, they all have to look as close to teh same as possible. These three EDC I am working on right now are going to tell if I can make one design look the same or close. Yes, I have huge dreams thanks to you guys and everyone else. I also know I am still learning, and no way I am going to bite off more than I can chew at this time, even if it sets up a total shop. Putting out a mediocre product that does not meet the standard of Hide Group Buy will not happen. Let me do what I am doing right now, make a few blades, sell, upgrade, make a few more, upgrade, and each blade that comes out will be nicer than the last. When I see a blade that meets group buy standard, I'll first be surprised, then secondly look at it for a week thinking damn, did I do this??? When I look at my work and really think, this is freakin NICE! Then I will be ready to chase that up front group buy.
Redman, the rest of you, I know where you guys started. I was active duty, selling fine cigars, pushing you all like the devil to step out of your comfort zones ang go independent. Now it is my turn. I've already made myself self employed. Now I need to make this little thing a success on my terms, in my time, and take this art I am learning to a higher standard. When my blades look as good as Kim Breed, Mr Eddelman, Niel Kamamura, or Wildcraft, then I'll be ready. Right now, I watch these people grow and do cool things on Instagram, and try to make what I am doing just a little better.
Thank you all for the motivation and kind words, but Fire is not yet ready or skilled enough to do a cool group buy, but damn, it sounds so cool, and dreamlike!
Click to expand...

What if you raffle off a couple of blades or however many you're confident you can deliver in a reasonable (8mo?) timeframe? $50 a ticket?

I'm in the market for a small skinning knife, and a pig sticker [5 1/2"+ blade length].

This little coleman works pretty well, but doesn't keep an edge for long going through hogs. .308 FGMM for scale.

7088565
 
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AH man, you guys are freaking tempting me to go beyond my skills and set myself up. Let me work at my pace over the next few months to see where I get with what I have. Without the right 2x72 multi grinder, no hollow edges, only traditional Japanese/Scandinavian blade angles.(Flat or rounded).
Let me finish these three 3.5" blades and the two kaiken, and my next set will be four or five of the same EDC Tanto, and two more micro knives...or one fat ass micro knife. I have at least 10 or so blades on 1084 I am working right now or on the back burner
 
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oneshot86 said:
steady as she goes Switch, stay in your comfort zone. A group buy can come later, rock on.
Click to expand...
Agreed there, I'm just all about supporting a fellow Jarhead and long time Hide member pursue his passion.

Zero pressure Switch, I'm not going anywhere, and I can probably still get it faster with you building your skillset and perfecting your chosen offering than I could if I ordered a Randall right now, and a Randall wouldn't carry the added personal value to me anyhow.
 
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Oh man, aybe two weeks out on these two beauties(the two small ones). They will be set up to carry sideways on the belt.
6"OAL, 2" blade
1084 steel
will be clayed then edge heat treated

When you look at the two small ones, that is their final profile. The handle will be rounded on it's length, as well as it's ends.
I hope you guys like these becuase the bigger ones will be kinda plain
 

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Strykervet said:
I want one of those but made like a real one with the correct grind.
Click to expand...

The AMK77 Grinder with the AMK77 Hollow Grind Fixture, and miller's clamp will run about $1800 plus another $300 in belts for the 2x72 set up to do a proper double hollow grind dagger blade. Me, I am just getting used to Axe, Flat, and Japanese profiles due to the limits of my 4x36 belt(too wide, not enough adjustability, motor weak, but it's working ok) Once I can build and sell enough knives to save up for that(18 - 25), then I'll add a smaller sized dagger to what I am making to learn first double edge, then double profiled edge.
There is only one way I get where I am worthy of selling you guys what you really want, and what I really really want to make, one blade at a time. GAP started a rifle at a time, so I know how it goes. Slow and steady, learn as you go, master what you are doing well.
 
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Wiki ain't the be-all/end-all for information, by any means. I can't remember where I learned the particulars many years ago (Hatcher's Notebook possibly) but I remember reading quite the diatribe about the (?) British Lee Enfield WWI era bayonets being stripped and re-ground by them, for the original blade development.
en.wikipedia.org

Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
That is what I was getting at. Hence why many of the Canadian ones still had the wooden scales. I had a few of those bayonets here that I picked up from the surplus store, about 30 years ago. You think I have ANY idea where they are now? And that was FOR this type of thing. One day I'm gonna....
 
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Sean the Nailer said:
Wiki ain't the be-all/end-all for information, by any means. I can't remember where I learned the particulars many years ago (Hatcher's Notebook possibly) but I remember reading quite the diatribe about the (?) British Lee Enfield WWI era bayonets being stripped and re-ground by them, for the original blade development.
en.wikipedia.org

Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
That is what I was getting at. Hence why many of the Canadian ones still had the wooden scales. I had a few of those bayonets here that I picked up from the surplus store, about 30 years ago. You think I have ANY idea where they are now? And that was FOR this type of thing. One day I'm gonna....
Click to expand...


Find them bayonets and I'll turn them into those! I can get the guards and pommels, and stacked leather for the handles



WORD! Thank you to teh two Hide members who have already spoken for the two kaiken blades...they are at clay and heat threat stage
 
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I’d add learning to make your own leather sheaths to your repertoire. Kydex has its place, but it can really “cheapen” a knife. A lot of times buying a knife is buying the package. Knife and sheath.

As your skills progress and you start using nicer/more exotic scale materials; you will have to up your sheath game too. Best of luck!
 
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Bigfatcock said:
I’d add learning to make your own leather sheaths to your repertoire. Kydex has its place, but it can really “cheapen” a knife. A lot of times buying a knife is buying the package. Knife and sheath.

As your skills progress and you start using nicer/more exotic scale materials; you will have to up your sheath game too. Best of luck!
Click to expand...

Oh yes sir, this is part of the plan. I know how to work leather so it is in the future when I can move from purchasing knife tools and buy the stuff for leather. I made leather belts and sheaths to sell at the 4H fair as a kid so I at least have rudimentary skills on structure and basic finish.Problem with leather though, is it is FAT, really thick. For smaller blades, kydex is the way to go for belt or bag mount.
 
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Hi
So might be a hassle but have you thought of making or getting a belt grinder made? (I'm sure there is a lot of people here that could help with one.)
done right it'll be more capable for the same money and as capable for cheaper.
Being a cheap (relatively normal?) Bastard the price of belt grinders (for "bladesmiths") almost gave me an aneurysm (seriously like $2.5k AUD.)

pretty simple design from Pirate 4x4. (make into 2'' belt of course.)

https://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/shop-tools/1027321-homebrew-2-belt-grinder.html

this was also good but is now gone.


Pretty simply as well and at least you can see pictures in google image.

Contact wheels are expensive for the big ones (200-350mm), best place for an Australian was here, not sure if there's a better option for Americans but the US/RAND conversion works.

http://www.herbst.co.za/index.php/shop

A quality sealed VFD will be expensive as well but no one seems to go back after variable speed.
(personally I'd go with a 4 pole motor around 1500rpm (2-3hp?) with three step pulley/belt in conjunction with a VFD
so you're not mucking around with loss of torque at the limits of the VFD.)

Make the grinder adjustable to use both 48" and 72" belts to keep options open when buying belts.

Should be a brute.
I may have missed or got something wrong, it's been a while.
 
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Also,
is a auto hammer like a power hammer?
have you looked at a 25-30 ton hydraulic press,
while not a direct comparison to a power hammer in the job it does they churn out Damascus, very handy tool.
The main trick is if you can get a custom hydraulic ram made up for mates rates (In Australia anyhow, otherwise a fair bit of money.)

A press in action



So anyone who has beaten hot metal with a hammer can understand the time saving there lol.
Also it's only a 'weak' 16 ton press.


pretty basic build with lots of good info.

https://blacksmithforums.com/t/hydraulic-press-build/46

All the best.
 
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A press that you can forge with runs around $3.5k+. A good powered auto hammer runs around $5k+. Any 2x72 grinder, once set up with the ability to run flat patten and 6" to 12" contact wheel is going to run ~$1400USD, If you want a dedicated hollow grind FIXTURE, there's another ~$400USD. 150 or so belts from shredder to finishing will run $600~, 24 each in a kit, $1000(will make up to 40 knives per belt set(35 to 1000 grit)

One can make knives by hand methods with a little machinery, or one can invest several thousand into a shop and equipment to make many knives per week. I'll make a knife at a time, if someone buys it, cool, save a little here and there and upgrade as possible. Someone mentioned to me about going to State VR with my VA disability packet to see what they would pay for, for self employment(I think the budget is around 10kUSD)
 
Just finished this project for a soldier I served with, and working on three edc's kaiken's(3.5" blades) that are coming out pretty nice. But tis ancient styled seax, man it is a cool blade! Lightweight, moves nicely, sharp, and will make my buddy a fine EDC. We spoke quite a bit on exactly how he wanted this to look, and when I showed him this, he kept messaging saying how great it was. By his words, I guess I did pretty good. It's getting a side mount leather sheath to ride SOB on the belt

IMG_20190819_113312.jpg
 
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