First completed knife. Farrier rasp oak handle

[Qhforge]

This is my first completed knife. I have made blanks but never made the handle until now.

I used a broken Bellotta Farriers rasp, normalized 3 times, and drew down the existing tang. Then I forged the blade from 6" (original broken rasp portion) to 9" and worked on uniform thickness and a straight blade. I then split a piece of oak and burned in the tang on both scales. I drilled the tang and then hardened the blade to a straw/bronze over my stoves burner. I then made 2 pins out of brass brazing rod 1/2" x 1/8". I made the pins pointed on both sides, placed them in the holes in the tang and used my vice to force the pins into the oak scales. Then I drew an out line of my handle profile on the wood and used my belt sander to get the basic handle. Then I switched to 400 grit and finished up the blade and handle. I then used epoxy on the tang and pins to permanently fix the handle in place. Then I used boiled linseed oil on the handle. I buffed the knife and used bees wax on a small buffing wheel to further finish the handle.

[jmccustomknives]

Not to bad for a first knife.  Did you check if it was a heat treatable steel?  Some files (I believe the one you use is one of them) are case hardened and will not harden. 

[Qhforge]

I treated it and it works great so far but I am going to try steak tonight so we will see how well it holds its edge.

[rockstar.esq]

That reminds me of an old advertisement "...tougher than a $2 steak".

[Qhforge]

Cut the meat well and just had to wash it with soap and water. I am going to hang it from my BBQ tool rack good place for it I think.

[mitch4ging]

Nice! Looks like it may have found a home next to the bottle opener as well! Grilled meat and cold drink....a good thing! :)

[Benton Frisse]

Super cool!