Where to begin-knife making

[MIOutdoorsman]

Hi guys. I’ve never done any sort of knife making but I have some anteler and want an antler-handled skinner to complement my hunter’s bag. Where do you recommend I look for reasonably priced blade blanks that have the long/skinny end that (I assume) one could glue in a hollowed out antler??

Then of course, how is this actually done??

 

[Bo T]

Jantz supply is one place. Yes, you can use epoxy to set the tang in the antler. I am looking at using pewter, poured to set the tang in antler. If you use a Scandanavia style, layered birch bark with ferrels front and back and the tang bent over to hold everything in place will work.

 

[fleener]

I built my first knife 23 years ago. Was in AK on vacation with the wife and stopped at a custom knife shop. She being the good wife granted her permission to buy a $250 custom knife. I was too cheap. Bought a couple of piece of caribou antler and went home and made my own.

Jantz is certainly a great company to deal with.

I buy all of my blade now from Two Finger Knife company. They sell on flee bay. I love their blades. High quality and made in ID.

I use a drill press to hollow out the bone. Cut the tang off, leaving around 2" to 3". Cut slots in the tang, so that the epoxy can grip somthing.

Use 30 min epoxy, not the 5 min. I have never had a handle come loose and I use my knifes.

Making the leather sheath is good as well. Let me know if you need or want more info.

I got to admit, that I now only use full tang blades. I can whip one out in no time using scales.

I got a whole drawer full of handle material.

Osage Orange is my current favorite.

Fleener

 

[longcruise]

You sent me looking at those blades. Nice and reasonably priced too.

Another good source is Texas knife makers supply.

The Russell Green River blades are good and well priced but you would have to grind them down to do a Tang mount.

 

[MIOutdoorsman]

And... off I go looking this stuff up! Thanks guys!!

 

[BillinOregon]

For a good selection of Swedish, Finnish and Norwegian blades, also look up Ragnar at Ragweed Forge. I have had perfect satisfaction from him over a number of years.

 

[Black Hand]

Hi guys. I’ve never done any sort of knife making but I have some anteler and want an antler-handled skinner to complement my hunter’s bag. Where do you recommend I look for reasonably priced blade blanks that have the long/skinny end that (I assume) one could glue in a hollowed out antler??

Then of course, how is this actually done??

All my new projects start with research....

 

[Bo T]

+1 for Ragnar. And he is a nice gentleman that usually doesn't mind answering questions over the phone.

 

[Pete44ru]

I’ve never done any sort of knife making but I have some anteler and want an antler-handled skinner to complement my hunter’s bag.

Where do you recommend I look for reasonably priced blade blanks that have the long/skinny end that (I assume) one could glue in a hollowed out antler??

Then of course, how is this actually done??

Congratulations, on wanting to try your hand at assembling a knife for yourself ! :bow:

I find it to be very satisfying, and hope that you will as well.

If you google "knife making supplies" or "knife handles for sale", you should find a few million vendors who would be able to fit your needs/wants.

While a rod-like tang can be epoxied into a blind hole drilled into the center of the antler, the end of the tang can be threaded for a nut, the hole drilled all the way through the antler's length, then held in place with a plain or fancy endcap (bought or made) that's about the same diameter as the rear end of the antler round, which is then in turn secured with a nice-looking acorn nut.

I would further suggest making or buying a metal (brass) crossguard to go on the tang, against the rear of the blade proper, before the antler round is slid on (to prevent cutting your hand if it should slip forward onto the blade during hard cutting/slicing. :shocked2:

 

[Mad Professor]

I've got blades and parts from Track of the Wolf.

Not sure if they have a skinner blade with the the type of tang you need

 

[Pete44ru]

Here's a few sources for hidden tang skinning knife blades:
http://www.crazycrow.com/knife-blades
http://www.knifemaking.com/category-s/1857.htm




Here's a few sources of antler handle sections:
http://www.crazycrow.com/knife-making-handle-supply

http://www.knifemaking.com/category-s/175.htm

 

[fleener]

For what it is worth I am not a fan of blades made in India or Pakistan.

My experience has been that quality is not good. Without a doubt there are some good ones, but not for me anymore.

If I am going to spend time making something, I like to have quality parts going into the project.

Fleener

 

[Rifleman1776]

For what it is worth I am not a fan of blades made in India or Pakistan.

My experience has been that quality is not good. Without a doubt there are some good ones, but not for me anymore.

Agree. Pakistan blades are very questionable. I have one kicking around my shop that is so hard normal sharpening techniques just won't touch it. Naturally, being that hard it is probably very brittle and dangerous to use. Be cautious in your purchase.

 

[kansas_volunteer]

Brisa knifemaking supply in Finland (brisa.fi) has a very large assortment of traditional looking blades. I haven't ordered in a long time but the last order came reasonably fast.

 

[Artificer]

Most 18th and early 19th century trade knives had 1/3 up to 1/2 tangs in the styles shown in the link below by the country that made them. https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/...AAAAADkw/C-Mk3XoCTYI/s1600/Knife+Blades+2.jpg

I am not completely sure about this as I have never had one of these blades in my hand to examine, but perhaps this blade could be filed/ground along the top edge to match the French Style and the tang shortened and tapered? (I don't think you could get the English style top of the knife from this blade, but could be wrong.) https://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/1104/1/BLADE-NW-06

Gus

 

[Heelerau]

fleener,
the late Dean Tugwell of Mundoo Island a great mate of the Humberstones and myself used to make primitive knives out of old chaff cutter blades. They were pretty rough but most effective. I still carry one of his now when on rare occasions I go a hunting .

Cheers

Heeler

 

[spudnut]

I pick up old hickory knives at flea markets and garage sales,knock off the wood scales and rehandle them with antler or bone,grind the tangs to fit

 

[Artificer]

I pick up old hickory knives at flea markets and garage sales,knock off the wood scales and rehandle them with antler or bone,grind the tangs to fit

The older Old Hickory knives with the bit thicker blades can be made into some nice knives.

Gus

 

[LRB]

One should be able to form an English scalper from a Old Hickory butcher type, but would be a bit thin for a French. Old, Old Hickory knives were 1095 steel. I assume they still are. Just be careful to not over heat in do so. Do all grinding work bare handed and cool often.