Thread: Who forges their own knives?

I cant offer any advice but it looks great to me, well done

I forge my own and can say that you did a great job! My advise is typically to "forge thick and grind thin", but you don't seem to need that advise. if you are limited on tools/space/funds, then get a good 4.5" angle grinder. Those cost about $100 here. They can be used for cutting, grinding and even polishing depending on the wheel that you use with it. If you are forging your blades, then a good angle grinder with a set of files is about all you really need for the metal work. You can even cut slots in the handle for your pins with an angle grinder.

Thank you!! Good to know I’m on the right path. Full disclosure I am a millwright by trade so I do have a lot of tools including an angle grinder and used it to shape the tip downwards here. I didn’t use it to thin at all. Also used it to work a bit of the handle. Being in the trades also allows me to have a decent amount of experience metal working which I used to my advantage. Also used a pencil grinder with flap wheel for the finger grooves.

Question about the quench, my blade picked up a bend in it post quench. I just heated it up again and straightened it out and re-quenched.

Is this advisable?

Originally Posted by s0litarys0ldier

Question about the quench, my blade picked up a bend in it post quench. I just heated it up again and straightened it out and re-quenched.

Is this advisable?

Basically that is the standard procedure. Thermal cycle three times, then heat to soak and quench. If it warps during quench, then heat back up and straighten it out. Heat to soak again and re-quench.

Why yes I do.

Love the Damascus and the smaller knife. Big fan of the tear drop handle shape!

Ok.....





Me too....

But only in a secret place... deep in the heart of Texas.

Pete <:-}

Never done a knife. I have done some attempts at razors with old files in a charcoal chimney lighter with an air mattress inflator for annealing and heat treating but not really forging as such. I say attempts because I found that the files I had at least we're too thin and I didn't have an anvil to work them on. I really want to though.
Yours looks really good. Well done!