Hello names Brandon live in spartanburg. all ways liked working with my hands love the idea creating tools and works of art. So picked up some things two weeks ago and started hammering. No training need help badly know absolutely nothing other than what I've read. So any pointers are WELCOME! First knife I made is bad as turned more In to a prison shank.

Knifemaking is generally considered an advanced skill in blacksmithing. Generally we advise you to learn hammer control, forge control, temperature control; etc before trying blades that greatly profit from all those and *more*---alloys, heat treat, grinding/filing, hilting skills, etc.

If I teach new people to make a blade we make a simple medieval peasant's eating knife and that's with me coaching extensively.

Agree 100% big task for my first one still not complete have to finish the handle still. I was trying to stick with older methods using scrap steel. 

This is my first project.

"Older methods" being: Egyptian? pre 1000 AD european? 19th century?  American Frontier?  Blacksmithing has a *LOT* of history behind it and King Tutankhamun was buried with an iron blade made to a very fine finish using "older methods"! 

Very true didn't think about that guess I'd say American frontier no gas no power tools other than my blower at the moment went with what I had which is not hand crank.

Great so you are more in the "foxfire book range" than Moxon or Diderot (Or Egyptian Metalworking and Tools...) 

Are you familiar with draw filing and do you have access to a decent vise?

Heard the term draw filing no idea what it is and the vise I'm not sure about I have a vice