Category Archives: Knife Making

Here are the two knives that I twisted the handles on for some rustic metal knives.  I’ve done some grinding and the edge is looking good on the bottom one.  I did a lot of hammering on the bottom one at the cabin to thin the edge out so the grinding went pretty quickly onContinue reading “Twisted”

Here are a couple paring knife blades (lots of work left to finish shaping them) in a piece of rough cut cedar. I tried a new technique that worked very well.  I drilled two holes for the tangs (the width of the steel thickness).  Then, I heated up the tangs and pushed them into theContinue reading “What is that???”

We packed up the anvil and forge and headed up the the cabin “Gods Country” for some R&R, beer and forging! This is my first attempt at being a blacksmith (something I’ve always wanted to do) and things turned out all right.  One thing is certain, I have a new appreciation for blacksmiths as thatContinue reading “Hammer’n at the Cabin”

I thought it would be cool to twist the metal for a handle and I will be trying my hand at forging steel on the anvil this weekend at the cabin.  I figured if I got the hang of it now, this weekend would be a breeze.  Boy was I wrong.  This thing is ugly,Continue reading “One ugly knife to be”

Here are a couple blades that have been heated to 1500 degrees.  Once they are no longer attracted to a magnet, it’s time to quench.  Into the vegetable oil these are going! This is the best part of knife making!

Here’s the first step in turning a lawn mower blade into a use-able knife; cutting to shape.  I use “Big Red” the Milwaukee 9″ angle grinder with my super sophisticated clamping system (“Stumpy”).  This is the best set up I can think of aside from an oxy-Acetylene torch or plasma cutter (both of which IContinue reading “Sparks are flying!”

I got a bunch of left over maple, cherry and oak pieces from a local cabinet shop. Other peoples trash are my treasure!  These are the perfect sizes and species for some awesome knife handles. Lawn mower blades, metal files and chain saw bars all can contain tough steel of which knife blades can beContinue reading “So many knives to make, so little time!”

Here is my forge that I made from a fire brick and a propane torch.  This is a design by Wayne Goddard that I read about in his book.  It’s easy and it works for heat treating, forging and straightening blades.

Here are a couple of skinning/utility knives I’m almost done with. You can see how it came from a rusty lawn mower blade and needed some work. I’m using some cherry wood for the handle and it cleans up nicely with the boiled linseed oil and the buffing wheel. The last picture shows one completeContinue reading “Progress on some skinning knives”