First knife

[MastaStan]

This is the first knife I made and it really gave me the bug to start getting some better kit and start progressing.

Made from an old file blade and mahogany scales. Hardened by heating to cherry red +non magnetic and quenching in water. Then a stint in the kitchen over until straw coloured.

I designed it based on an old folding knife that I use for fishing, but made the handle much longer and ergonomic.

Entirely made only using hand tools. Files, rasps, sandpaper etc. I had no power tools when I made this knife! The hardest part I found was forming the angles of the blade and ricasso using files. Its a lot of work but teaches you a lot also. I had been watching loads if YouTube bids and doing a lot of research beforehand.

Thanks for looking.

[ThomasPowers]

Straw may be a bit brittle for a file knife depending on its intended use,

How are you determining which videos are bogus and which ones are good?

They range wildly and some of the ones with the best production values have the most bogus information.  As I tell folks who depend on the net for information: "Give me half an hour and I can have a website up that claims you are the lovechild of Margaret Thatcher and Elvis Presley!" (Many American's don't seem to get the reference...)

[Will W.]

I realize you didn't ask for critique, but if you round the edges of your scales, it makes it feel better in the hand (opinion, I suppose.)

I also do most of my knives using hand tools only. Typically, the only time the steel sees a power tool is when I'm cutting the stock, and even then, you can usually just use a hacksaw. You don't need fancy expensive equipment to make good knives. Excellence is a decision (to quote one of the curmudgeons)

As far as the ricasso and bevels go, Steve Sells has a topic here somewhere (in the knife classes I believe) about making a very simple jig in order to line your ricasso up on each side and make your bevels even. Check it out.

Doing it freehand is difficult, but you seem to have done a good job on it. 

[TacticallySharp]

Check the ABS YouTube channel.  They have

Good information!!!

[Daswulf]

I like the profile, looks good. 

[Frosty]

2 hours ago, ThomasPowers said:

Straw may be a bit brittle for a file knife depending on its intended use,

How are you determining which videos are bogus and which ones are good?

They range wildly and some of the ones with the best production values have the most bogus information.  As I tell folks who depend on the net for information: "Give me half an hour and I can have a website up that claims you are the lovechild of Margaret Thatcher and Elvis Presley!" (Many American's don't seem to get the reference...)

I didn't even know Elvis was pregnant but now I think about it he did look to be carrying an extra . . . something.

Frosty The Lucky.

[ThomasPowers]

My wife has been asking when my twins are due.

[MastaStan]

2 hours ago, ThomasPowers said:

Straw may be a bit brittle for a file knife depending on its intended use,

How are you determining which videos are bogus and which ones are good?

They range wildly and some of the ones with the best production values have the most bogus information.  As I tell folks who depend on the net for information: "Give me half an hour and I can have a website up that claims you are the lovechild of Margaret Thatcher and Elvis Presley!" (Many American's don't seem to get the reference...)

I thought the lovechild of Margaret Thatcher and Elvis would be a coal burger!

Thanks for the input on tempering, i intend on using more files. The knife will probably not get much use. Maybe for fishing, feels nice in the hand for gutting.

I watched a lot of Walter sorrels videos on YouTube for basics and making with hand tools. The knife was essentially to get used to the basics knife making. Very simple and came out quite well, IMHO.

 

 

Thanks for comments.