msloan1972

Cool. Thanks

About a week ago, prior to finding this site, and with only a little research, I made this knife. It's not real pretty, but it is functional. I made it from a leaf spring. I heated it to a bright orange, and straightened it. I then used my angle grinder and the stock removal method to grind it to the shape I wanted. I ground and filed the edge, heated it to a bright orange again, and quenched it in used motor oil. Cleaned it up a bit, sharpened it, and wrapped the handle with a double layer of paracord. Then I found this site, and started reading. I didn't temper it. When I hardened it I didn't check it with a magnet. I didn't anneal it properly before I started. BUT, It's holding an edge really well, even after punching holes in a car door I have sitting around. I placed it in my vise and beat the crap out of it with a 3 pound hammer. It flexes, but doesn't bend or break. I intend to abuse the heck out of it and see how it holds up. Picture attached.

New guy here from Wilkes County, NC. Love to tinker, weld, fabricate, love knives and swords. Decided I'd try my hand at making some of my own. Built my forge out of an old water heater tank. I cut the rounded top off, flipped it over, and used the convex bottom to hold my fire. I put a sink drain in the center, ran a pipe from there down and out the side. I had a blower left over from an old Christmas yard decoration that my dogs ate, and used it for my air supply. I'm using wood and regular charcoal right now, and it works, but I'm looking for a source for some coal. My anvil, for now, is a small piece of "I" beam. I'm hoping I can get an anvil in the near future. Made my first knife from a trailer leaf spring. It turned out pretty good. Not pretty, but I can't bend or break it with a 3 pound hammer, and it's holding an edge well. The tip stayed sharp after poking several holes in an old car door I have laying around. I started my second knife tonight out of an old file. Matt