My first knife

[v8stang289]

I've been thinking about trying my hand at knife making for a while now, but the heat treating was scaring me off. After a ton of reading and researching I finally bit the bullet and got started.

It's made out of 1084 steel and has maple scales. It's not perfect but I think it turned out pretty good for my first try. It was also my first try at sheath making, It's a little rough but is functional.


^ This is just a stock pic from the place I got the steel from, Not the same piece but it looked pretty much identical


After using a hack saw, files, and bench grinder to get it into shape


Blade partially filed/sharpened, and pin holes drilled. Ready for heat treating.

For some reason I didn't take any more pictures until I was done. I thought I had a couple more but either I deleted them or I didn't take them to begin with.


Finished Product.

 

[v8stang289]

The knife alongside my Kimber with the grips made from the same maple.

 

[OptimusPrime]

I think it looks great. Good job.

 

[Chevelle SS]

Nice job! So when are you taking orders?

 

[MaterDei]

Great job. Hard to believe it's your first.

 

[v8stang289]

Thanks for the compliments. It's definitely my first. I started with an idea and just kept at it going slow and taking my time. It evolved as I went, partially to cover up mistakes or slips when grinding etc. The camera covers up some of the imperfections but honestly it turned out better than I thought it would.

 

[hso]

Good job.

Now you have to put it through some cutting tests and let us know how it performs.

 

[Sam Cade]

I am pretty dang impressed.

The first knife I made looked like something that one of the extras in The Roadwarrior would wield....unfortunately, so did the last knife I made.

 

[Valkman]

That's a real nice job for a first knife - I'm too embarrassed to show mine it's so bad!

 

[roninrlm]

knife

How many hours do you have into completing the Knife? VERY nice Job!!!!

 

[P.B.Walsh]

Wish my first was as nice!

 

[Sam1911]

Nice! Looks like an effective bushcraft blade to me.

 

[v8stang289]

Thanks guys. roninrlm, I'm not really sure how many hours I have in it as I didn't really keep track of the time. I started working on it in mid-April and worked on it in my spare time up until a few days ago.

 

[M-Cameron]

Very nice looking blade, especially for your first time.....

Conspiracy theory time: OP is secretly a master sword smith.... And while this may very well be the first knife he's made, he's been making swords for years

 

[v8stang289]

Haha, I wish M-Cameron. The camera and reflection of the blade hide the imperfections. In person you can see the sanding scratches and marks that I didn't get polished out

 

[JShirley]

Good blade shape- hope it works as good as it looks.

John

 

[v8stang289]

This is my second attempt at knife making. It's made from 1084 steel like the first, but is a little larger. Blade length is just shy of 5 inches and the scales are from the same maple as the first. I made the sheath differently this time and I like it better than the first one. I only had it finished for about 24 hours before my Grandpa claimed it. He been putting it to good use though and its holding up well. I've got a couple more in progress and one more on paper.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

I love the shape of the first one. It would be a fine shape for a kitchen knife, of thinner steel of course.

It looks like an awesome practical field knife, though.

Very handsomely done!

 

[v8stang289]

Got a chance to use the first knife today, I shot a whitetail doe this morning and used it for about half of the skinning. It worked well and I like the blade profile. The handle is a bit small which led to my hand cramping a bit, so I switched back to my old gator to finish it up. Overall it worked pretty well.

 

[lauderdale]

Both are nice, looked like almost curved as a pig skinner. Ive been a meat cutter for many year's my father worked the stock yard's of chi. town back when. Funny u say G, gator, as I've found it to be my go to as I have a large inventory of Knifes grinders , and slicer. I'd be proud! Nice Dude!

 

[Valkman]

The handle is a bit small which led to my hand cramping a bit

That's how we learn to make knives! Something that looks great may not work so well in use. Keep at it!

 

[GLOOB]

Great looking knives, but I wonder if the primary grind isn't a little thick for a knife? That first one looks like an axe.