Making my first knife

[NirvanaFan]

Here is my build thread for my first knife. My birthday was this past week, and my wife bought me a piece of O1 tool steel. It is 1/8" thick by 2" wide by 18" long. It is enough to make two fixed blade skinning/hunting knives with a full tang. Here is a rough outline of the knife I'm planning on making.

A week or two back, in preparation, I bought a set of ziricote knife scales.


I ordered a bunch of ceramic sandpaper and some random tools last night. They should be here by the end of the week and I should start making it sometime next week.

 

[GOYABEAN]

 

[Celt]

That's really cool man. Keep us posted on the progress. One of these days I'll get around to making something myself.

 

[camper4lyfe]

A friend sent me about 30 lbs of old saw blades his work was going to scrap. Someday, I'll be making knives out of them. All I need is some free time....if that ever happens.

 

[Podmonkey]

That ziricote is gorgeous! If thus project goes well would you entertain commissions?

 

[NirvanaFan]

That ziricote is gorgeous! If thus project goes well would you entertain commissions?

It's possible. I have a couple pens I have to make first, including one when the forum hits 1000 members. The steel was about $15 per blade (expensive when only ordering enough for 2) and those ziricote scales were about $30. I have no idea how much sandpaper, cut off wheels, drill bits, or anything else I will use. I have to think it's going to add in another $25, at least. Ceramic sandpaper is expensive. I'm not sure how people feel about spending $100 or more on a knife. I know I have done it before, but I'm not sure about others. Long answer short, we'll see

 

[camper4lyfe]

What're your plans for heat treating? Do you have anything set up for that yet?

 

[masterswimmer]

Will you be forging the steel?
Those scales do look hot!

 

[NirvanaFan]

Will you be forging the steel?
Those scales do look hot!

No forging for this. The steel is already precision ground to 1/8", so it's at the thickness I want. I do want to start forging eventually. It's not in the plans quite yet though.

What're your plans for heat treating? Do you have anything set up for that yet?

This is O1 tool steel, so it's pretty easy to heat treat. My plan is to build a little house out of fire brick (7 or 8 of them). Insert the knife so it's sitting on edge. Blast it with propane from a couple torches. Ty to slowly heat the blade until it's not magnetic (roughly 1500°F) over the course of 20 minutes and keep there for ~10 minutes. Dunk the blade in slightly warm canola oil until it is cool. Heat the blade up in the oven to ~400°F (checking temp with a good thermometer) for a couple hours. This should end up with a Rockwell hardness of about 61-62.

 

[Podmonkey]

It's possible. I have a couple pens I have to make first, including one when the forum hits 1000 members. The steel was about $15 per blade (expensive when only ordering enough for 2) and those ziricote scales were about $30. I have no idea how much sandpaper, cut off wheels, drill bits, or anything else I will use. I have to think it's going to add in another $25, at least. Ceramic sandpaper is expensive. I'm not sure how people feel about spending $100 or more on a knife. I know I have done it before, but I'm not sure about others. Long answer short, we'll see

I have no qualms whatsoever in spending $100+ on a quality blade. Did you decide if you are doing the scale liners?

 

[NirvanaFan]

Did you decide if you are doing the scale liners?

Not yet. I am going to mock some up with a folded up piece of construction paper tonight to see if orange or yellow might look good.

 

[Podmonkey]

Not yet. I am going to mock some up with a folded up piece of construction paper tonight to see if orange or yellow might look good.

I vote orange. Blue or red would look nice too.

 

[Cleck]

Can't wait to see how it turns out and make my own as well This is a great project that I've always wanted to do but never put much thought towards it.

 

[Robin]

Your heat treat sounds right and I like the handle material, Good luck!!!!!! Most of the guys I know that use 01 have precision controlled ovens, But if I remember correctly I did it very close to what you are going to do and had good results.
Robin

 

[NirvanaFan]

Your heat treat sounds right and I like the handle material, Good luck!!!!!! Most of the guys I know that use 01 have precision controlled ovens, But if I remember correctly I did it very close to what you are going to do and had good results.
Robin

I could always send it out to have it heat treated. But, you're looking at $5 shipping there, $10 per blade, then $5 shipping back. Supposedly O1 is one of the more forgiving steels to do the way I mentioned. If/when I start using 440c or AEB-L, I'll just pay to have it done.

 

[Cooolone]

$100 per is certainly a steep discount against your "time"... I'm sure it'll be a couple of hours work per blade, so don't sell yourself short.

Interested too! Will be watching

 

[Robin]

Nirvana, Mine are more of a period correct style but they work for me, top two are patch cutting knives, one with bone and one with cow horn handles, the other two have left over gunstock wood handles. The brass studs on the handles are for starting the patched ball at the muzzle.
I have never heard of Ziricote, beautiful wood and should look awesome!!!!

Forge and anvil out of the weather for the winter.


Robin

 

[NirvanaFan]

Beautiful work @Robin. I'm keeping my eye out for a reasonably priced anvil. I figure I will get that before I make the forge. I'm still trying to decide what kind of fuel I want to use. I'm thinking propane because it's quick and easy. It also makes no smell, so my neighbors shouldn't have an issue.

 

[Robin]

I think propane is probably the best way to go, it takes a bit longer to get your work up to heat but it is easier to control, a lot less chance of burning your steel, and you can make the whole setup portable. When I finally got on the internet I looked at all kinds of home made forges, very impressive what can be done, but in the end I guess I'm kind of set in my ways.
Robin

 

[NirvanaFan]

I think propane is probably the best way to go, it takes a bit longer to get your work up to heat but it is easier to control, a lot less chance of burning your steel, and you can make the whole setup portable. When I finally got on the internet I looked at all kinds of home made forges, very impressive what can be done, but in the end I guess I'm kind of set in my ways.
Robin

There is something to be said for doing things the traditional way. How heavy is that anvil in your picture?

 

[Robin]

Its a Peter Wright, so its done in English weight system. I translated it and if I remember correctly its 145 pounds.
Robin

 

[Podmonkey]

I'm looking more closely at the outline of the knife and I must say I really like! Are you doing a scandi grind? And the outline kind of hints at a swede along the forward spine. Both of those geometries appeal to me immensely. The handle ergos look really nice too, I really dig the pseudo forward 50/50 choil.

 

[NirvanaFan]

I'm looking more closely at the outline of the knife and I must I really like! Are you doing a scandi grind?

I haven't totally decided yet. For ease of sharpening, it will probably turn into a regular grind.

And the outline kind of hints at a swede along the forward spine.

Nice catch. I love the look of a nice swedge. I think it adds to the appeal of a lot of knives. We'll see how easy it is to put in.

Both of those geometries appeal to me immensely. The handle ergos look really nice too, I really dig the pseudo forward 50/50 choil.

It's very similar to the Buck knife that I have. I'll probably omit the bumps/grip on the butt. I think it will just add the the difficulty and if I don't get it right, it will look funny. The plunge will probably move back a bit and the choil won't be quite as long.

 

[Podmonkey]

I haven't totally decided yet. For ease of sharpening, it will probably turn into a regular grind.

I thought that was the whole point of the scandi grind, ease of sharpening, what with no secondary bevel to worry about? That and it allows for good thickness at the spine without the blade being too thick behind the edge.

 

[NirvanaFan]

I thought that was the whole point of the scandi grind, ease of sharpening, what with no secondary bevel to worry about? That and it allows for good thickness at the spine without the blade being too thick behind the edge.

I've got a Lansky sharpener and have been using it for years, so putting on a second bevel that is repeatable is easy. I don't really have the stones required to sharpen a scandi ground knife.

 

[NirvanaFan]

I can't decide if I want to add liners or not. I mocked them up with some paper. What do you guys think? It's a little hard to tell the difference between the orange and yellow, but there is a difference.

 

[FrankenCub]

I could go either way, the liners do look good though. I can't tell the difference between the colors, I'm color blind lol.

 

[Podmonkey]

Orange. Definitely orange.

 

[masterswimmer]

Those scales are gonna be hot! I wouldn't want to take away from them with liners. Go linerless!

 

[Saltwater60]

Orange liners look awesome.