Putty knife to patch knife

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ArmorerRoy

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Find an old wooden handle putty knife from who knows when. They are usually priced close to free. Make sure it has a wooden handle and is full tang. Grind away the blade to a knife profile without overheating it. Sharpen it. Add some linseed or true oil to the handle. Makes a razor sharp old looking knife in about 30 minutes.

The completed one was made by Red Devil. I'm not sure about the unfinished one, it's unmarked.
 

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I believe that it does have enough carbon and is also hard enough but I don't know the specs. Mine is razor sharp and holds its edge after carving wood and cutting cloth. The steel is very similar to an old saw blade.

I would expect that a modern Chinese made one might be unsuitable because they are stamped from sheet metal. These old US made ones are made from spring steel and are heat treated.
 
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I once bought a whole bunch from a guy at ronny. For years I used them for blanket prizes and gifts. Finally my friends asked me to stop giving them as they had more than they could use. I might still have one or two. They do hold an edge OK.
 
Thank you for a good idea. I have a couple old ones, with damaged blades, already re-shaped from use.
(Just what I needed, another project; needed though.)

My favorite, antler crown & pewter handled, neck/patch knife had been sharpened past the harmon when I got it. Takes a good edge but can't hold it. Have to carry a small stone in my pouch to touch it up.
 
Here’s one I made in the mid 80’s from a 5 & 1 Painters scraper…
The one in the picture is a later version, it has a hollow plastic handle where the one I used had a solid plastic handle..,Both had good steel and would hold an edge long enough too skin a deer…

This one’s dressed a couple…

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The scrapers were not as flexible as the putty knifes.👍
 
True, but I don't believe that a U.S. manufacturer in 1931 would decide to buy a lesser grade blade material to sell to the general public. I have to go to our tool and die shop in the next week or two, and just for curiosities sake, I'll take a few old putty knives that's at least 50 years old, and a Red Devil that was bought within the past 5 years and see what the Rockwell hardness is.
 
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