Sidearms & Scatterguns Anyone else here making knives?

[Moose]

My wife’s grandfather made this from an old file in 1952 though. Pretty neat and I’ll keep it until I’m gone.
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I like people being creative.My first couple of knives were made from old files.

 

[Slambert008]

Knives seem to be very personal..

The user wants something very specific.

Likewise builders like to build with their ideal features in mind.

I like my knives to be pretty spartan, drop or working clip, a manageable size, pommel suitable for some light hammering, spine suitable for some battoning, 90 degree edges for striking a fire steel/fire starting.

The maker I was talking to had issues with some of my ideas, particularly the "hammering" of the pommel.

He took my ideas and came up with what would work with his skills/desires as a builder.

He came back with this....

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My original sketch to compare...

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If anything he added some bling to my spartan desires.

I liked it and we parted with an agreement if he built it Id buy it but than I never heard anymore so I kind of moved on. He builds really nice knives and I hope he is finding success. Who knows I may get contact one of these days stating "Hey your knife is done, pay me $X and Ill send it".

Just an interesting side note on how when it comes to knives the user/builder really have to be in unison on their ideas.

Strange that he just dropped off though after all that communication. I would have told you straight up from the beginning if I didn’t want to or didn’t think I could do it. I guess that’s how some people operate. Hope you’ve sat some cash aside for it if he does come out of nowhere saying it’s complete! ?

 

[502Chevelle]

I want to get into this more. Right now I can only buy a finished blade, and do the handle work. Have dabbled in wood work over the years making jewelry boxes and such. Here is one I made for my dad this past Christmas, and a couple boxes I’ve made. I think pics are on my phone, will post in a moment.

 

[502Chevelle]

 

[502Chevelle]

 

[Moose]

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[Moose]

Nice job on that knife is that zebra wood.

 

[Slambert008]

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It’s still nice! But yes, profiling and grinding bevels is rewarding itself!

 

[Slambert008]

Nice job on that knife is that zebra wood.

Looks like canary wood to me

 

[502Chevelle]

I bought the scales at Woodcrafters. If I remember correctly it’s Bocote. I could be wrong, they had a lot to choose from and I just picked a set that had some contrast and character.

 

[Aaros143]

Whats the knife in the third pic from the top?

 

[Slambert008]

Whats the knife in the third pic from the top?

This one? it’s a 7.5” OAL, made from 80crv2, blue dyed curly maple scales, and carbon fiber pins. It’s a new design I just started doing. And that was my first exposed lanyard loop!

 

[Moose]

I bought the scales at Woodcrafters. If I remember correctly it’s Bocote. I could be wrong, they had a lot to choose from and I just picked a set that had some contrast and character.

Their are so many nice woods to work with and coco-bolo was one of my favorites.

 

[Aaros143]

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This one? it’s a 7.5” OAL, made from 80crv2, blue dyed curly maple scales, and carbon fiber pins. It’s a new design I just started doing. And that was my first exposed lanyard loop!

Whats something like that go for?

 

[Jackalope]

Not a knife but hope it fits. I wanted one of the Winkler Ranger Axes but $600 seemed a little out of line to me. Bought a CRKT Rune Axe and modified it to fit the bill. Re-profiled the bit and spike, stripped the black powder coat, gave it a vinegar patina and made some longer walnut scales with brass pins. Finished it up with an OD wrap. Pretty dang happy with it for the $60 investment

 

[Slambert008]

Whats something like that go for?

Sorry for the late response. I usually sell all my knives for around $150

 

[Slambert008]

Not a knife but hope it fits. I wanted one of the Winkler Ranger Axes but $600 seemed a little out of line to me. Bought a CRKT Rune Axe and modified it to fit the bill. Re-profiled the bit and spike, stripped the black powder coat, gave it a vinegar patina and made some longer walnut scales with brass pins. Finished it up with an OD wrap. Pretty dang happy with it for the $60 investment



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That is pretty dang sweet. I’ll keep you guys updated on my tomahawk Im building.

 

[Moose]

Not a knife but hope it fits. I wanted one of the Winkler Ranger Axes but $600 seemed a little out of line to me. Bought a CRKT Rune Axe and modified it to fit the bill. Re-profiled the bit and spike, stripped the black powder coat, gave it a vinegar patina and made some longer walnut scales with brass pins. Finished it up with an OD wrap. Pretty dang happy with it for the $60 investment

That is a mean looking SOB

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[Doctorwho1138]

View attachment 7290661View attachment 7290662Here's a couple I made. Texas Pedernales with a deer leg bone, pine pitch & sinew. Bottom one was forged from a piece of old Yugo M72B1 RPK machine gun barrel. Old cow bone handle with brass.

I absolutely love both of these. Nice work

 

[Mudburner]

Thank you.

 

[UpSideDown]

I've wanted to DIY a knife for a while, and I have a CNC mill that opens some doors for cool features. I don't have access to a heat treat oven. What are you guys doing for heat treating? Torch and temperature sticks? Oven and eyeballing? Legit mini ovens?

 

[Slambert008]

I've wanted to DIY a knife for a while, and I have a CNC mill that opens some doors for cool features. I don't have access to a heat treat oven. What are you guys doing for heat treating? Torch and temperature sticks? Oven and eyeballing? Legit mini ovens?

I don’t deal with any stainless yet so a sealed oven isn’t necessary. I use an Atlas knife Company mini forge with a single burner and different types of oils for quenchind depending on what I’m working on. Then tempering is just done in an oven.

 

[Ridgeback80]

I have everything nice, except for a grinder. I will be buying a nice 2x72 in a year or so. I have multiple grinders but none compare to a 2x72 built specifically for knife bevel grinding. You can buy a decent propane forge for $2-300 or there are lots of DIY videos and forums online. The learning curve is different for everyone. But I believe every knife I produce is better than the last. Not saying 3-4 knives ago was pure sh$%, but I’m constantly learning new little tricks and techniques to make the final product that much better. The main advice I have is, just jump into it head first and get started on something. The long you wait, the longer it will take for you to “be good” at building knives.

There are alot of DIY plans out there for a 2x72 grinder iforgeiron.com is a great forum like here but for forging. I'll post pics of mine later. Also great looking blades to all.