knife making help

[beeker]

alright.. so i'm driving the other day thinking of how i drew my bear tag up in wisconsin for this year. and was thinking of something i can do for my buddies uncle.. who maintains the bait sites and what not. 

so i get this idea... a few years back out in wyoming i picked up an elk shed from a trip we were on, i'm thinking how cool would it be to use that shed as the handle of a knife. sounds cool? that's what i thought. however i've never made a knife before and last thing i want to do is chop up a big shed for a crappy knife he's going to toss into a drawer and not use.   

my questions..

anyone here make knifes? where can i get the blanks? what type of steel should it be? thee were 4 of us on the trip and if things go right maybe i'll make us each one.

i can make the sheaths for it.. i bought an industrial leather sewing machine because i'm sick of not being able to find left handed holsters that i like.. been making holsters and cases, it's been quite fun.

any thoughts guys?

[Boar]

Thats a really cool idea, no experience here but I have always wanted to getting into such things, google knife making, knife blanks ect.. if you get it going take pics and let us watch the progress.

[DDSBYDAY]

  I would bet there are youtube vids on the process.  I have learned a lot of different techniques there.

[beeker]

I will start my research, I have found youtube most helpful with the leather sewing stuff i've been doing.

with a braintrust like MNoutdoors..i never know who will have some knowledge they're willing to share. as i progress i will share what i find

[dew2]

 Its been years, but I made some knives in my time.High carbon spring steel,I had no forge.I made a shape cut it close with a hacksaw.Then shaped it with a grinder. That is the tough part not wanting to heat it to much and tempering the steel untill its finished with all except the sharpening.You want a flexable back with a hardened edge.In other words dont temper tha back it will get brittle and break at some time.The edge needs tempered so it will hold a edge.I lived in Colo. then and also used antler hilts with counter sunk brass rivets.Practice is a must like most every thing trial an error till you get something you like,then stick with that process. heat then a oil dip will temped the steel or heat and dip in salt does a softer temped.Like I say trial and error,dont go through the polish process till you are satisfied with the tempor,shape and edge

[HD]

You can get blanks at: Smokey mountain knife works. Just google search buck knife blade blanks....should be the first web site that pops up.

[dakids]

I have a few beaver tails frozen and have no real use.  The leather looks really cool.  If you would like them they are yours.  You could tan them yourself and make the sheath as well.

pm me if you want them.

[beeker]

very interesting stuff out there.. there are a number of places where you can pick up the "blanks".. 

Dew, in your experience do you think a guy could mortise out a antler and epoxy the tang of the knife into it without the rivets? or would it just work free over time?

no idea on what it would take to tan some beaver tail... but i'll make a few calls. sounds like it would be a cool chunk of leather to play with anyways. i'll let you know what i find

[dew2]

very interesting stuff out there.. there are a number of places where you can pick up the "blanks".. 

Dew, in your experience do you think a guy could mortise out a antler and epoxy the tang of the knife into it without the rivets? or would it just work free over time?

no idea on what it would take to tan some beaver tail... but i'll make a few calls. sounds like it would be a cool chunk of leather to play with anyways. i'll let you know what i find

Rivets or glue?? I suppose now days there may be some glues that would work, Myself to make sure the rivets are a must.Look at professional knives,They are all riveted,Some home knives are plastic formed handles but That is something I dont think can be done at home? Uric acid,oak wood ashes and salt will tan hides.Thats how the natives did it long ago. Google that for the process.

[beeker]

watched a few youtube videos where they take old files and turn them into blades. that may be the process i take. i tend to buy the old tools when i'm at auctions and i think i have a box of files in the garage that could be experimented on.

 in the mean time i think i need to find me a big old industrial size grinder