File Knives

[Bongos]

Started getting into making knives out of files from a curiosity
here are some pics:
started with a very basic design with paracord wrap


Then moved on to wood grips


Then the infamous bowie

Now
trying different blade shapes

[Blademan21]

How are you heat treating? What are you using to grind the blade, 2x72 belt grinder? Nice start,keep it up.

[Bongos]

Yes, Annealing, shaping, hardening, then tempering. Initial grind is a Bench grinder, shaping with a 1x30 and 2x42 belt sander.

As far as heat treating, when I have a BBQ I lay the files in with the coals, the trick is to get the metal up to non-magnetic, after you let the metal cool by itself, steel should be very soft now.

[golfish]

I have a dozen or so Anza knifes. I like em but the handles need to be attached a better way. The glue just doesn't get it ...

Those are all nice knifes, I really like what you did with the wood grip and paracord wrap.

Very nice work

[sealocan]

I knew the anza was known for this but yours are really nice and I like how you left some what some of the filing remaining.
It might be handy to have the top edge left alone in case you need to file.

[golfish]

I bought this skinner two years ago on ebay (56.00 I think) I'm pretty sure the seller bought a bunch of new old stock anza knifes from an estate sale. I bought a few from him, they were all made in the 80's and had never seen a stone. This one was made in 1983.


Just sharing this one because I think its cool. I'd like to read your take and thoughts on it. It had to be a huge file.

[Bongos]

I knew the anza was known for this but yours are really nice and I like how you left some what some of the filing remaining.
It might be handy to have the top edge left alone in case you need to file.

That is actually a great idea.. but sometimes I do some file work patterns on the spine of the knives, depending on the style of the blade, also trying wood I had laying around like cider, ash, and walnut

[Bongos]

Hardest part is making a hand guard out of another file, since these are made from files, I wanted to have the filing left on the blades

[golfish]

So I only see pins on the wooden knife...what's holding on the other handles ?

[Bongos]

Its actually industrial super glue, same stuff they use in laminate bow (Since I'm into Traditional Archery as well) making, it's good stuff.. The key is to let the glue cure at least 24 or more hours with pressure mates in and the parts fused together

[ATS134]

Looking good, I like the top one a lot!

The first knife I made was a file knife and didn't look anywhere near as good as those.

Keep it up!

[Bongos]

It's the same method the older kabars used compress glue, I can do the pins but didn't like the look

[Blademan21]

Somewhere in my garage I have a box of used ferrier's rasps. These make bad *** Bowie knives with a hidden tang. Years ago I made two and put elk horn handles on them. Sold them at a Pow Wow to a mountain man type person. I got the rasps from a horse shoe place near me. They only are used once to not spread hoof and mouth from horse to horse. OP let me know if you are interested in a couple. Maybe a trade of some kind,always like to trade.

[Meety Peety]

Really cool stuff! I always wanted to get into knife making but to be honest I didn't want to invest any serious cash only to find out that I'm no good at it or didn't like to do it etc. Any tips for someone who might want to test the waters a bit before making an investment?

[Blademan21]

Really cool stuff! I always wanted to get into knife making but to be honest I didn't want to invest any serious cash only to find out that I'm no good at it or didn't like to do it etc. Any tips for someone who might want to test the waters a bit before making an investment?

Easy answer. Google knife kits. The supplier I liked the most was K&G out of Arizonia. They have kits,epoxy,handle material ect. Another is Texas Knife Making Supplies. Several companies to choose from,and most kits require no soldering of knife guards. In addition there are even folder kits on the market. I like K&G because one of the owners lived in Redlands about 30 years ago. Really nice folks to deal with. Go for it and let me know if I created a monster