Knife making kits

[Agrismith]

Hi I'm wondering if anyone has had one of the knife building kits available on the Webb
I'm looking at the sheath knife kits that have all materials including the individual parts of the sheath
I was wondering if anyone has made one or can recommend one
I don't want to buy all the components individually until I've seen if I enjoy it then I will look at making blades and the like

https://uk.knivesandtools.eu/en/pt/...78pGtEvjkuAMxxyyHUXLDkxdwsbShU1QaAsFvEALw_wcB

 

[Parm]

I bought a Damascus knife blank from an eBay seller based in India. It might as well have been made of Swiss cheese

 

[Screwdriver]

I can’t understand why anyone who wants to make a knife would want to start with that.

If you don’t know if you really want to make a knife, I can probably answer that for you....

 

[Parm]

Don’t be so harsh, this might be his first foray into knife making

He can’t start with a forge, anvil, grinder etc as a first off

 

[Screwdriver]

Harsh but fair. You don’t need those things to find out whether or not you like the idea of making a knife. I don’t see how assembling those items would even give you the first idea anyway.

 

[northwest]

Harsh but fair. You don’t need those things to find out whether or not you like the idea of making a knife. I don’t see how assembling those items would even give you the first idea anyway.

I am not trying to start an argument, but have you tried to do any leatherwork or handle making? If the OP hasn't then this could be a simple way into that. I happen to know that these kits are distributed by Casstrom and they are very good quality. The price advertised in the link is on the high side though and they can be bought cheaper.
In my life, I have often learned by doing, this gives anyone the opportunity to learn the rudiments of knife making and finishing without, as has been pointed out, the need for forge, anvil and other things.
It was harsh.

 

[pedrobedro]

I've made a few but not from kits. I have put handles on full tang and through tang blades and made blades from O1 tool steel from Cromwell and done a couple of folding knives. I've not done any for a while now but it's something I will go back to when I'm in the mood for it. Have a look on brisa.fi for inspiration that kit looks expensive for what it is. You can make blades using basic tools like angle grinder, files and blow lamps without spending a lot till you decide if you like it. Karesuando are good quality blades, I have used Lauri carbon blades for the most part and they come well finished and razor sharp

 

[Ali]

Have you explored any books on the subject of knife making or (sighs inwardly) YouTube vids (...like I have)? Just curious on what has inspired you to want to make one?

I fancy having a go too, the handle end wouldn’t be a problem to me and is something I could happily do over a few evenings, I’ve even got the wood. The blade however - Id love to make one, but...learn about all the metallurgy, figure out the hardening process, make a forge, conduct several failed experiments, make some sharpening apparatus if you don’t have it - I’m probably into year 3 at that point just from a time perspective. So I see where you’re coming from and if someone gave me a kit like that for Christmas I’d be chuffed.

What I do know is that good knives aren’t cheap, so if that’s a good blade it might be a good buy.

I bet there are cheaper (Chinese?) kits out there if you’re not bothered about how well it keeps an edge, or you could nip down the Army & Navy Store (if it still exists), buy a knife with a good blade and make a new handle.

 

[TechnicAl]

£58....Id want one finished for that amount of money....not a kit

I am a yorkshireman but isnt the aim to make one for nowt or next to nowt

 

[Parm]

I've made a few but not from kits. I have put handles on full tang and through tang blades and made blades from O1 tool steel from Cromwell and done a couple of folding knives. I've not done any for a while now but it's something I will go back to when I'm in the mood for it. Have a look on brisa.fi for inspiration that kit looks expensing for what it is. You can make blades using basic tools like angle grinder, files and blow lamps without spending a lot till you decide if you like it. Karesuando are good quality blades, I have used Lauri carbon blades for the most part and they come well finished and razor sharp

Thanks for the link, that’s a handy site to have in the book mark

 

[pedrobedro]

Thanks for the link, that’s a handy site to have in the book mark

You're welcome and if you just want a knife that will cut and last well for not a lot of money without making one i would say go for a Mora,plastic handle but brilliant steel carbon or stainless.

 

[northwest]

Bought some Kirinite from here: https://www.kirinite.shop/product-category/kirinite-knife-scales/ and repaired the missus' favourite pairing knife. Loads of brownie points.

 

[Parm]

Bought some Kirinite from here: https://www.kirinite.shop/product-category/kirinite-knife-scales/ and repaired the missus' favourite pairing knife. Loads of brownie points.

Thanks, another very useful site

 

[Agrismith]

Thanks for all the replies
@pedrobedro I see you can get mora blades ready to use so might look at them

I can’t understand why anyone who wants to make a knife would want to start with that.

If you don’t know if you really want to make a knife, I can probably answer that for you....

I want to make a knife a single one for sure I don't know if I want to make many
The blade making is not a problem I know I like metal work
However I have never tried shaping a handle or sewing a sheath therefore a kit is a better idea as I would rather pay more get exactly what I need rather than try and guess and have miles of leather thread and brass left over
I can also get nice burls for the handle but don't really want a whole burl or to wait for it to dry hence a kit to learn from

 

[Screwdriver]

Thanks for all the replies

I want to make a knife a single one for sure I don't know if I want to make many
The blade making is not a problem I know I like metal work
However I have never tried shaping a handle or sewing a sheath therefore a kit is a better idea as I would rather pay more get exactly what I need rather than try and guess and have miles of leather thread and brass left over
I can also get nice burls for the handle but don't really want a whole burl or to wait for it to dry hence a kit to learn from

It seems like a LOT of money for an unknown blade and I am not entirely sure what you will learn about knife making from assembling it with the supplied parts.

As a metalworker, you will know that a blade can be made easily with a file and a chunk of quality metal. Handle material can be virtually anything you can get your hands on with a dab of epoxy and a vice, job done. Leather working is something else entirely but there are people here who could supply you with a scrap of leather for example.

The sheath is my least favourite part of the process. I have made a few stitched leather sheathes which are so bad I wouldn't dare to show them in public. That's a skill which requires a fair bit of time served imho. FWIW I bought a cheapo Chinese set of tools just to see if I could do it and I figure if I enjoyed the process, I would replace the tools I discover I like with better quality versions over time. Again the resources are dirt cheap and even a small roll of say, kevlar thread or waxed thread is so cheap and useful for many other projects (buttons, patching, repairs etc.) that even a thrifty recycling nut like me just bought the hell out of some.

Shaping a handle is of course a part of knife making but all that requires is a small piece of wood and some time spent whittling.

So the thrust of my argument is that for the best part of sixty quid you're getting a pre made knife blank to try and find out if "you like knife making" and I just don't see how that works. If you had said you want to try this kit to see if the blade is any good, I would respond differently. The material (Sandvik 12c27) is certainly a good one but this is where my confusion lies; you're not making it, you're assembling a pre made knife. The challenge in my mind is in producing a blade from stock. The magical hardening and tempering process is a joy to behold if only because nine times out of ten (in the early years) the process fails! When you finally get the heat treat right, you get that sense of achievement as payback for the effort you've put in.

That reward and sense of achievement is something you earn by doing. If you just skip to the end and make a knife by buying a pre made one, you won't feel that sense of satisfaction or be able to relate to the enthusiasm of others for knifemaking which you say you would like to discover for yourself.

 

[Ali]

I’ve got loads of bits of nice wood, if you let me know the size you need I’d be happy to donate a chunk. Does it have to be a burl?

 

[pedrobedro]

It seems like a LOT of money for an unknown blade

It's a Karesuando blade, they are not an unknown make they are a prestige Swedish manufacturer of knives and axes. The kit sounds expensive to me as well, I have found antler for sale in pet shops as dog chews and exotic wood off-cuts from wood turning suppliers and bought good quality blades for as little as 6 euros as well as making a few. I was given a piece of 3mm brass plate to make bolsters. I'd encourage the OP to have a go as well, cut a blank from an old saw blade or something similar or get some 25x3mm O1 from Cromwell for a few quid and just go for it. Draw it out with a sharpie and get the angle grinder on it. Handle shaping I rough out with the Black and Decker Powerfile, good to see a shape forming and keep trying it in the hand for comfort.

 

[Agrismith]

Your presuming my current interest is in the blade though which it is not it may be in the future but currently I am more interested in the sheath and handle

Thanks Ali I will wait and see what size tang I want if that's the route I go

 

[Screwdriver]

OMG!

Health and safety official would have a heart attack if they watch that! I got to the bit where the guy is operating a massive cropping tool with one arm inside the mechanism on the blind side of the "guards". A great example of where a "safety" feature is making the operation a LOT more dangerous.

 

[pedrobedro]

Your presuming my current interest is in the blade though which it is not it may be in the future but currently I am more interested in the sheath and handle

Thanks Ali I will wait and see what size tang I want if that's the route I go

I get veg tanned leather from Matlock, the identity store which is local enough for me to nip and get what I need and wet forming it is not too daunting a process. I don't do anything fancy like Mrs Bruce but it works for me. Look at a few designs and see what you want to achieve then draw them out on paper for patterns before you commit. Have a go you might be surprised and get hooked on the process.