How Should I Go About Making A Sheath Knife?
I have decided that I want to make a sheath knife from raw materials as I think it would be fun and I would save alot of money while getting exactly what I want. What materials as far as steel and stuff should I use? I do have access to a grinding wheel. I want to start out with a long piece of steel and form alot of it into a blade but leaf a good sized flat piece as the handle which I will sandwich between two pieces of wood. The blade will hopefully look like this:
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Though not quite as tall. Look up “tanto” blade if you want to see a picture. I would like for this knife to be able to be used lightly as a hatchet or to cut stuff like a normal knife so it will have to be really strong.
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If all you have is a grinder then this is my suggestion: Start by finding an old file (junk store or pawn shop that carries tools or a garage sale) Once you find one that is large enough; take a colored pencil and define your blade shape and tang area (this is where the handle goes). Start by grinding the basic shape. Do this real slow and keep dipping the metal in a bucket of water. Once you have the basic shape start to grind down all the file’s ridges. Then work on the angles for the blades shape. Always keep the blade as cool as is possible. You will spend more time dipping that grinding.
I did this with a 18″ bastard cut file that I picked up in a garage sale that the tip was broken on. It took a couple of weeks worth of slow steady grinding and dipping but I ended up with a very respectable knife. Use a 1500 lb two part expoxy to attach you grips with. And wear leather gloves and a face shield when grinding PLEASE!
Good luck.
I know a guy that makes hunting knives and when I asked a very simlar question he made it clear in no uncertin terms that any forming of the blade beyond the rough shapeing should always be done by hand. Even that part should be cut and filed useing hand tools since they do not generate the extream heat. The heat is deadly to the temper of the steel and will soften it beyond repair. Since you want to use this knife pretty agressivly you will need a good blank to start with and this will require a lot more working to form the blade. Some sort of 440 stainless or tungsten would be ideal in my mind.
If you start with raw materials, you are going to need some iron ore, a really good furnace……
You are going to need a good piece of flat bar. Mild steel will be too soft to use as a hatchet, and will dull too fast as a knife. I suggest a mild stainless steel. Cut the rough shape with a band saw, and grind the rest. you are going to have to go slow, and keep a bucket of motor oil on hand to keep the steel cool. (a fire extinguisher is a good idea too). If the metal starts to turn pretty colors, you have been too aggressive, and gotten it too hot.
A real tanto blade would be made with a steel that is folded hundreds of times, (We call it Damascus Steel). That is ridiculously impractical for a guy with a grinding wheel. Get a machine shop to cut the rough shape if you do not have access to a metal cutting band saw. Cutting with a torch will spoil the temper, and grinding will take too long. Cutting on an iron worker, (a big hydraulic press), will deform the stock.
Now,why in the world would I want to look up “TANTO” type knives to assist you in how to make a knife?Have you ever made ANYTHING before? I’d doubt it!!!Do yourself a favor and just go buy one,I got ya injuring yourself pretty badly!!!