ausfire Posted May 8, 2016 Share Posted May 8, 2016 This looks like a dagger but it's a letter opener. That's what I tell the kids who always want swords and daggers anyway. Made from a wrought railway spike; just wanted some practice in making a reasonable looking blade. Might straighten out those scrolls on the handle and do them properly. I am going to do a knife-making course in a few weeks time. I have never made a knife, apart from lots of letter knives, rail spike knives and such, so I intend to practise forging basic knife shapes. Learning about pattern and heat treatments will be new to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Ling Posted May 8, 2016 Share Posted May 8, 2016 about how long is it? Littleblacksmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted May 8, 2016 Author Share Posted May 8, 2016 It's 300mm - about a foot in your money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Ling Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 like you said- almost like a dagger. Littleblacksmith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daswulf Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 Cool Aus! Could make for an interesting Actual dagger design with a wrapped or twisted handle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted May 9, 2016 Author Share Posted May 9, 2016 Thanks Das; as I said, it was mainly an exercise in shaping a reasonable blade (and trying to control that confounded wrought iron). I have had next to no experience in knife making and I don't want to be totally clueless when I do the knife course in July. I have been avidly reading the posts in the knife forum and have learned a lot. Next I might try a blade or two from harder steel, like leaf spring or coil spring to see how it works and if I can get a good edge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norrin_radd Posted May 9, 2016 Share Posted May 9, 2016 Very nice I like it. I made my first real letter opener a few weeks ago. One deference I noticed from making knife blades is that on a letter opener the bade needs to be very thin and flat, at least 3" - 4" of it, to open envelopes easy. Not that I'm an expert at either but it was just an observation from the one I made. You should have no trouble transitioning to knives though. Good luck with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyw Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 Ausfire, I guess you started the letter opener by cutting the spike like a Friedrich's cross? Do you remember offhand about how long those cuts were? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Mac Posted May 22, 2016 Share Posted May 22, 2016 Very nice work Aus ! Impressive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ausfire Posted May 22, 2016 Author Share Posted May 22, 2016 On 13/05/2016 at 9:35 PM, tonyw said: Ausfire, I guess you started the letter opener by cutting the spike like a Friedrich's cross? Do you remember offhand about how long those cuts were? Tony, I can't recall exactly but I think the overlap was about a half inch (12mm) or so. It was an old wrought spike - a bit smaller than the newer mild ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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