Thread: Start with razors or knives

I'm thinking of getting into forging. Not for sale or anything (at least as far as the SR's are concerned) I just want to add that to my list of things to learn (as if I don't have enough on my plate. lol)

It seems everyone always says, "that's what happens when a knife maker try's to make a razor..."

So, my question is: So should one learn one before the other? By and large, I intend on making more knives and such. However, I would like to make a SR I can use and pass on to my kids.

I am with you, sort of. I also want to lear to make razors, eventually. I do not have the giant super cool shop that you have. I would also really like to make wood working tools. I will also add that general blacksmith made items like rot iron trim on my wife garden fence would also be cool. All remotely related stuff. I think I am going to start by going to hang with some razor and knife makers at a meet or two. I am also thinking about taking some classes. A learning vacation of sorts. The details are not even close to being worked out.

Likewise I have an interest in blade making, down the road. A natural extension to the restoration interests some of us share.
Me, I think the skills are the same but the edge finesse and grinding techniques are different.
I personally think learning knife making will be more forgiving and will develop the
Skills needed to advance into razor creation with a better expected outcome.
At least that's the way I see it evolving up here.
Good luck, as you really have the perfect shop to play in..

Originally Posted by RezDog

I am with you, sort of. I also want to lear to make razors, eventually. I do not have the giant super cool shop that you have. I would also really like to make wood working tools. I will also add that general blacksmith made items like rot iron trim on my wife garden fence would also be cool. All remotely related stuff. I think I am going to start by going to hang with some razor and knife makers at a meet or two. I am also thinking about taking some classes. A learning vacation of sorts. The details are not even close to being worked out.

Yep, yep, yep. ((By the way, Thanks regarding the "...giant, super cool shop..." :-)). I just want to learn the craft of blacksmithing. With Mama into all the "craft show" things, with her soaps, lip balms, honey, etc. I thought it would be neat to be able to make a few things for her, too, to take to her craft shows to sell.

I've worked with a guy, for the past 18yrs, who started knife forging about 12yrs ago. He recently started making a SR for me (I did not ask...he just decided to make me a SR. I think showing him pics of my last 2 custom SR's from Yuri pushed him over the edge. lol) As it turned out, he chose a Kamisori style, as currently I do not have any Kamisoris'. This past week, he brought the roughed version to work to show me the progress. While it looks nice, it definitely shows he has made thousands of knives...yet this is his 1st attempt at a SR. The geometry is off for a SR. So, I came home, measured all the critical points on a handful of my SR's, of various makers. And gave him some "suggestions." He is very open to suggestions, so everything I told him didn't offend him.(after all, I'm just giving him measurements, not details on the forging process.)

ANYWAY......this got me to thinking......Which one should I start making...SR's or knives.

Originally Posted by MikeB52

Me, I think the skills are the same but the edge finesse and grinding techniques are different.
I personally think learning knife making will be more forgiving and will develop the
Skills needed to advance into razor creation with a better expected outcome.
At least that's the way I see it evolving up here.
Good luck, as you really have the perfect shop to play in..

Thanks for the props on my shop....it's been 46yrs in the making! I have worked in 'garage' "shops" and basement 'shops' for several years. I'm ecstatic about having a 'real shop' of my own.


As an un-informed, I agree knife making would be more forgiving. But, by te same aspect, I don't want knife geometry sooooooo stuck in my head, that SR's become a totally different "thang."

i've been thinking about making a razor too, (i know someone who makes knives and has the equipment) but am interested in making a copy of a vintage stub tail. my thinking was that as long as i get the geometry right (thickness and width) it should work out alright. since it would be a wedge anyway then the hollow grinding will be minimal.
Am i over simplifying it?

It really depends on what you want to do most. You can learn both eventually, but pick one that interests you most right now.
The skills transfer to a point. I'd say knives are easier because you typically don't have to worry about working in 3 dimensions in the same way that razor making does.