Hi guys! It's been a while since I last posted on here I think. Been a bit busy working on a little project. I've been collecting knives for around 5 years or so now but for the longest time I've always wanted to try my hand at making a knife of my own. I've had that desire for so long but never had the right tools and to be honest thought it quite beyond me. But I've always been quite a creative soul and I I've never been obne to give up without giving it a go first. At least I can say I tried Anyway, once I had acquired the right tools to make a start I decided to put my knife making skills to the test, taking information from the many books I had read, videos I watched and reading all the comments people have left on knife forums etc. Even talking to people one on one has inspired me. I had a design in my mind which kind of evolved over time and I came up with my first ever fixed blade knife...full tang of course I used 01 as it seems to be a good allround steel for a first timer to start off with. The handle scales are micarta that I made myself using cream linen I manged to find in the house. It still needs some cleaning up and polishing but I couldn't resist posting it up now to see what you guys think.
Very nice job!! How did you heat treat it? I have been wanting to make a fixed blade myself but that's the step I cant seem to get past, I have no ability to heat treat a blade after roughing it out.
Thanks edjo69. Well for the heat treat I made myself a mini forge out of two baking trays attached together. Then connected that to a hair dryer to force air into it. I reached some pretty high temperatures from the test runs which I measured with a thermocouple. I have a cast iron stove now which I have modified to heat my steel which is a whole lot better. I will pick up an electric furnace at some point. I am fortunate that I have the space to heat treat outdoors....that and I have cool neighbours But if you can find a way to heat treat then go for it mate. It's a very satisfying feeling holding a knife you've fashioned with your own hands.
For 01 steel you need to hit the critical temp when the steel becomes non-magnetic. If memory serves that's around 750 - 800 degrees or thereabouts.
Thanks guys. I have some more waiting to be finished on the side. When they are done I will post up some pics.
Thanks Giraffe! I appreciate that. I'm glad you like it. It could use a sheath though. Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
When I was into making fixed blades... (not as nice as that, I must admit) I would make a rudimentary sheath out of plastic form a 1 Gal milk jug, or similar, with a judicious application of duct tape. Double function! Tape and a knife! What can't you fix with that?
Nice! That's what I call resourceful. Kydex? We don't need no Kydex Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
Ahem! Not to be a nit picker... but..... "Stinking Kydex" is the quote. But yeah. ..poor man's kydex. Lol
