Knife I Made

[fischereco2]

I recently finished making this knife. It is the first knife I have ever made. I intend to use it as a general utility/camp knife when doing historical trekking/hunting. I know there is some debate concerning so-called 'Rifleman's Knives' and how prolific they were if at all. I referenced many different knives ranging from the 1750's-1820's and made something which I thought captured the look and feel of the period. I make no claims of authenticity or accuracy, again this was just for personal use and my own enjoyment. Just wanted to share the admittedly ugly fruits of my labor.

 

[R.C.BINGAMAN]

I like it I believe the super finished knives are great,but in my mind I also believe a back woods type hunter no matter where you come from would of been a resourceful person,and not very wealthy. The tools he would of had he used and the components available to that person limited.Fine work that will serve you well. R.C.BINGAMAN ,AN APPALACHIAN HUNTER

 

[JeffG]

I think it's great! Shows period type tool marks, and hand workmanship..... and you won't hesitate a second when somebody asks where you got it. You made it! Good job!! :thumbsup:

 

[LRB]

All things considered, it looks pretty good for what it is. I like it. How about some details about the construction and materials?

 

[fischereco2]

Thanks for the kind words, I appreciate it. Actually Wick, your knives are some of the ones which inspired me to give knife making a try. I didn't realize until now that you participated on this forum.

The knife is 13 1/4" OAL, the blade is about 8 1/2". I made the blade out of an old worn out ******* file I had laying around in my garage. The guard I forged out of a piece of mild steel, and the ferrule is just a cut off piece of steel pipe. The handle is a chunk of Walnut I found on my property. The buttcap on the end is a piece of copper held in place by the peened tang. I shaped the blade using a pretty crude forge I built and an anvil made out of steel railroad track. My next project will be making some kind of leather sheath for it.

 

[LRB]

Very good. I would even say outstanding for a first knife. Well done! :thumbsup: Don't stop with that one, you seem to have a talent for design and the skill to carry it out.

 

[longrifle78]

I like it. its good to see someone local on here.

 

[salkehatchie]

Very nice :bow:

As Wick has said before not a deer antler handled file, nor is it a high end custom Gentleman's dirk.

Just a perfect in-between blade. Best part, you did it.

 

[MSW]

I like it - very solid and serviceable design. :thumbsup: :hatsoff:

 

[crockett]

I agree with everyone else, for a first knife a really good job. Looks like some of the early primitive knives I've seen in books.

 

[bpd303]

All of my forged knives look primitive, it's the way I like em. :grin: I like this one too. :hatsoff:

 

[Ken Cormier]

I like it a nice job.

 

[hawkeye2]

The K.I.S.S. principle: Keep It Simple & Serviceable. You can't go wrong! :thumbsup:

 

[jjackson]

what about a pic of the forge an anvil.

 

[fischereco2]

Ask and you shall receive:

I forge was made out of scrap studs I had leftover from a basement remodel. I used a steel baking sheet lined with refractory cement as the firepot. The blower is a batter powered air mattress pump (I've since replaced with an AC model) hooked up to a 1" piece of steel pipe with a shutoff valve to regulate air flow. It works pretty well, not going to last forever but I figure it will get me through my first projects without a problem.

The anvil is a piece of steel railroad track I purchased off of eBay for about 30 bucks. It has a pretty crude punch hole which I suppose I could use as a hardy hole as well if I wanted to try making some simple drop in tools for it, like a bending fork. Honestly a regular, cheaper piece of track would have worked just as well but hey, this one kind of looks like an anvil! And it said 'Illinois' on it, so I had to buy it.

 

[bpd303]

Interesting forge set up. It looks like you are using chunk hardwood charcoal in one picture and charcoal briquets in the other. The briquets are not the best for forging but the hardwood is excellent. Here is my homemade forge, made from a semi-tractor wheel rim and old hand crank blower. I use coal mostly but when forging knives I switch to hardwood charcoal.

 

[fischereco2]

Sorry for the double post. I like your setup, eventually I'd like to get a proper hood and move everything indoors. I try to use the lump hardwood but there was a day when I ran out of fuel. Rather than driving to get more I just dumped some briquettes I had laying around in the forge. It didn't work as well, but it got the job done.

 

[bpd303]

The briquets contain chemicals and binders that react with the steel making it harder to work and usually inferior as far as knives go. I made that forge 20 or so years ago. It's got a fire pot and fire clay lined with ash dump. It will probably out last me. I like your air control valve, very ingenious.

 

[jjackson]

thank you both for the great pics .

 

[Crewdawg445]

I thought my mini soup can forge and the anvil I made out of 1" bar stock was cool... your set up is fantastic! :hatsoff: