My First Knife And Sheath

Hello everyone, I just wanted to post a few photos of my first attempt at a knife. It took me many hours longer than it should have lol. But I am learning as I go and it is so much fun. I love it! The sheath was also my first. Actually, it's the first one I completed. There are a few in the scrap pile

I'm trying to figure out how to post a photo. I inserted the image URL from Google Drive into the Image URL dialogue box but it doesn't seem to work. I'm an old guy lol... if someone could help me that would be great

 

the link should end in jpg for it to work in the image box, others should work on their own if set up that way

 

Thanks for the help on this one. I appreciate it!

Anyways, here are some images. I use the knife all the time so the scales are showing their wear.

 

Very nice!

 

Looks great. Good job.

 

That knife looks great, the bevels look awesome. Sheath is quite nice too, I hope I can come up with something half as nice for my first sheath.

 

Very nice work on both knife and case.

 

Just to clarify this is your first knife ever? Would you mind elaborating on materials, tools and process a bit? I would like to hear how different people do things. From some of your other posts it sounds like you have made more some more and even sold them since this knife. Has your process changed some?

 

I was planning to make a file or rasp knife to start and I got as far as annealing the file and cutting it out and then it sat on the shelf because I didn't like it. I'm sure we all have a few of those laying around lol

So yes, the knife you see above is my first completed knife. I could have sold it but I don't want to part with my first one. The second knife I made I sold to a friend who gave it to his father for his birthday. Here is a photo of that knife:



This knife has a zebra wood handle which I really like.

I have another knife completed which is also spoken for. All are flat grinds. I just started my 4th knife and it is a shorter design with a Scandi grind. I'm in the process of figuring out what to use for scales on that one.

To answer your questions about process ... I learned what I needed from YouTube. I've always been handy with tools but I knew nothing about knife making. I really never even considered knife making until a year or so ago. If I had know about it earlier in life I definitely would have started much earlier. I use the stock removal method (I know, I know .. this is frowned upon in some circles) so I cut out my flat stock with a mini grinder. Then I create my bevels with a jig and a belt sander. The sander isn't fancy. It's made by Delta and it does the job however I could benefit from a new grinder for sure. For heat treat I made a small forge out of the bottom of a 20 pound propane tank. I use a hair dryer for forced air supply and hardwood charcoal for fuel and it works very well.



My first knife was made from 1084. After heat treat I put it in the oven at 425 for two 1 hour sessions. Then I sanded the blade out to 600 grit.



That's about it. Yes, my process changes all the time. I seem to have the most difficulty drilling out my handle scales but I'm gradually getting onto that. I don't have a drill press so I go over to a buddy's house to do that.

Thanks for your interest.

 

Thanks for the explanation! Your do very nice work. I am also using the stock removal method, I doubt I will ever forge a knife. Look forward to seeing more from you.

 

Thank you very much. I hope some day to get in to blacksmithing but that is not a cost effective option at this time lol!

 

That's some very nice work Chezzetcooker!

 

That's a great looking knife and sheath! I love that Woodlore style and the zebra wood. Very well done.

 

Thanks very much!

I love bushcraft so it was only natural to make a Woodlore style knife for my first Thank you very much!

 

My first knife was a bushcraft knife too. I wish I could say it was somewhere near yours, but I can't. LOL

 

I wish I had that type of creativity to make my own designs but I don't lol. I envy those that can just sketch something up and make it.

 

I use a laminated template for designing my folders. I have a master template with the lock mechanism drawn out and with a laminated cover, I use a non permanent fine tip marker and start drawing a blade and handle that "grabs" me. Once I have a design I like, I take my new design to the light box and start proofing my clearances and tweak where necessary. Once everything flows and "locks" I finish the design on a new draft and permanent liner. I've never made a fixed blade knife, but the process should work for a fixed blade I would think?...

 

I imagine the process would be infinitely more simple for a fixed blade knife. It will be a long time before I attempt a folder lol!