First post, first knife made

A

Albatross

Member
Been lurking for some time. Have been collecting knives since I was a teen. I am 44 and finally decided to make my first knife.

Bought an old file at a flea market and this is the result. Never worked with metal before. Got some cheap tools from harbor freight and this is the best I could do my first time. I know that I made a lot of mistakes. I ruined a crap load of material. But overall, I love the result and I am f$@ing hooked. Handle is a canvas micarta that I bought off Etsy.
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Looks really nice! I like the blade shape and the pin work on the handle looks perfect.

Keep at it and you'll have a whole garage full of new knife making tools in no time...ask me how I know.
 
Welcome!

Just one piece of advice - don't EVER let that knife go. When it's the ugliest duckling in your collection you will still always hold the warmest place in your heart for your firstborn.

Ya did good. Make the next one now and incorporate what you've learned!
 
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Everyone starts somewhere! Not bad for the first one. I will say, unless the file texture is what you are looking for, you will be better off buying steel vs using scrap. Keep it up!
 
Edwardshandmadeknives said:
Everyone starts somewhere! Not bad for the first one. I will say, unless the file texture is what you are looking for, you will be better off buying steel vs using scrap. Keep it up!
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For me the attraction here is to take an old US made product like a file and repurpose it, give it new life. I’m going to try to pick up some used farriers rasps this weekend. Meanwhile I picked up another old file at a flea market last weekend and started working on a small bull cutter. Will be heat treating it later today.

Yep, I’m hooked, wife not happy. lol.

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Albatross said:
For me the attraction here is to take an old US made product like a file and repurpose it, give it new life. I’m going to try to pick up some used farriers rasps this weekend. Meanwhile I picked up another old file at a flea market last weekend and started working on a small bull cutter. Will be heat treating it later today.

Yep, I’m hooked, wife not happy. lol.

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My wife gives me hell also. Then she buys me handle material for my birthday. Go figure.
 
Albatross said:
For me the attraction here is to take an old US made product like a file and repurpose it, give it new life. I’m going to try to pick up some used farriers rasps this weekend. Meanwhile I picked up another old file at a flea market last weekend and started working on a small bull cutter. Will be heat treating it later today.

Yep, I’m hooked, wife not happy. lol.

885576653bd62acb937fe10af06c3c95.jpg



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My wife was not happy when I started buying expensive power tools. She became happy when I started making her kitchen knives. Her entire collection of Zwilling and Henkels are in a drawer somewhere now...
 
I just made one out of a file for myself - as an experiment to give local guys an alternative to the saw blades they usually use...

I thought it would be simple to draw it, shape it, and put a handle on. On mine I couldn't grind it (with a ceramic belt) until I did a 400 degree temper. I've used it a lot this fall and I'm pretty happy with it's edge holding - doing it that way. I might pass along the idea to them -even offer to do that part for them.

Congrats on your first knife - it looks good. That micarta gives it a raw look.
 
mike miller said:
A little 4 inch angle grinder can do wonders on bevels.
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I have a 4 1/2 inch angle grinder that I use to cut out the shape. Everything else is done on a cheap harbor fright 1x30 belt grinder. I just got a bunch of belts from red label abrasives and can’t wait to start using them. But as I progress I am always learning and trying new things. I have definitely seen videos where guys are working on bevels with angle grinders.


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I have ruined 3 different pairs of scales in the past couple of days while trying to finish the little bull cutter I’m working on. Frustrated, waiting for the mail man to bring me more material.


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Keep it up. Consider beveling or sanding a radius into the inside diameter of your lanyard tube edges. It looks like your paracord may be short lived as is.

Fun hobby, eh?
 
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