JD Bragg

Sorry, I guess I didn't specify. I am writing a paper of how I made my anvil and forge, and learning arc welding in the process. The knife I'm making now I'll give to my principal to show that I can make a knife. Then, my parents just have to sign something saying I did learn the forge a knife. Below is what I'm thinking for the tang(bottom drawing). About a 1 in. width with two half inch holes on either side. The blade shape will just be a simple bowie shape, if you're wondering. Then, the cast handle (top drawing) will have the guards a part of it, like you mentiond. Sorry, I'm not a very good artist.

I'm actually homeschooled through a private school up in eagle river, it's part of Until That Day church. So, I think this will count as an arts credit, or an extra credit. Thanks for the tips, I was thinking that making holes in the tang would be a good idea. Can I carve the form out of wax, or does wood work better?

I haven't made a drawing yet, I'm still just finishing up my first knife. I got into this because I wanted to and I could get a highschool credit for it, so I thought it was a win-win scenario. I'll try the aluminum-casted handle on my next knife. I have read the foundry casting basics discussion

Down on the Kenai peninsula, in kasilof. Thanks again for all the tips

Thanks, Frosty. I actually live up in Alaska. And yes, it will be a fairly thin piece of steel compared to the aluminum. And I will be doing the full handle, guard and all

Has anyone tried to cast an aluminum handle around a steel object (the tang of a knife, in my case)? I'm just wondering if there's anything that would be a problem in trying this