A Christmas Project

jwpettipas · 16th December 2004, 02:14 AM

Hi Everybody,

My name is Joey and I'm new here to the forums, and knives and swords alike. A friend of mine is coming back home from university for Christmas vacation, and we've been thinking of getting together to work on a small project. We thought trying to take on making a set of daggers would be a great one. The only problem is, we've both never really made knives in our lives.

I think this is a great idea, and would like to make a serious go at it. We were thinking of starting small, with readily accessible materials like steel and just cold working our daggers.

My question is this, could any of the members of this forum suggest a strategy for approaching this project? Any tips on how to go about fashioning a blade, via links, books, personal experience, etc, would be greatly appreciated.

I thank who ever replies to this in advance, and apologize if I have posted on the wrong section of this forum.

Regards,

Joey Pettipas

[editted for spelling]

Andrew · 16th December 2004, 03:33 AM

I'd advise checking out The Complete Bladesmith : Forging Your Way To Perfection, Jim Hrisoulas. It's available on Amazon.com.

Welcome to the forum.

jwpettipas · 16th December 2004, 03:39 AM

Thanks

I'm going to check Chapters.ca first, because they're the closest major book store in my area. I'd like to get the book before my friend gets back home, so I can be in the midst of reading it before hand. If that doesn't pan out I'll try our public libraries, then hit up amazon for an order.

I suppose we could always make our first attempt unguided, but I'm sure that'll be pandemonea.

TVV · 16th December 2004, 05:59 AM

Perhaps Sword Forum International would be another good place for you to gather information on bladesmithing.

jwpettipas · 16th December 2004, 06:51 AM

Thank you TVV, I've just started looking at the site you posted. It's great =)

Ferguson · 16th December 2004, 10:12 AM

Some good tutorials here

http://hossom.com/tutorial/jonesy/

http://www.knifenetwork.com/workshop/index.shtml

http://www.knifeforums.com/ubbthread...at=&Board=UBB2

Good luck!

Steve

jwpettipas · 16th December 2004, 10:40 AM

Awesome links Steve. I did a lot of reading on the site that TVV had mentioned and have just started browsing over the sites you've posted. The Absolute Cheapskate site seems like an extremely easy first approach, and the Knife Network site looks to be promising.

I was thinking of making a double-edged dagger on the first go, but maybe that's a little difficult for a first attempt. I guess I wasn't even really sure on the exact style or design to begin with anyway.

Never the less, I am getting closer to an attack plan now thanks to the help you're all providing me with.

I'll have to post pictures of the monstrosity I make here as soon as it's all together.

BCB · 16th December 2004, 11:45 AM

Joey,

Here are some links you might find usefull. It was usefull for me.

Good luck and let us know the end result.

BCB

http://www.knifelinksportal.com/

http://www.engnath.com/public/intable.htm

http://www.brisa.fi/

http://www.gatherwood.nl/

fearn · 16th December 2004, 09:00 PM

I'd also suggest that Atlanta cutlery has some interesting kit knives and blades for sale (note: I'm not affiliated with them, except as an occasional customer).

www.atlantacutlery.com

They have dagger blades (some that are really cheap) and an Arkansas toothpick kit.

Or you can do as I did as a teenager: I cut down a machete blade with a bolt cutter and mounted it as a sword. I certainly learned a lot about how NOT to mount a blade (the blade is now of constant width, as in a ninjato or some dhas). Recently, I found the blade again and rehilted it as a dha, and I learned about handle shock in those long-handled blades (fun stuff! I wish I had the money for a real dha!). If you like that idea, you could go to www.coldsteel.com, buy one of their two-edged machetes, and try rehilting it as a proper seme. Or not.

Have fun! I did stuff like that in high school and college, and it's a lot of fun and a real learning experience.

jwpettipas · 22nd December 2004, 06:41 PM

Hey guys, here's my _extremely_ crude first attempt. I spent some time grinding away at this thing this morning, I still have a ways to go yet. She's about 10 inches long.

jwpettipas · 22nd December 2004, 06:48 PM

I'm not quite ready to quench what I'm calling a knife here yet (lots of grinding and sanding to do yet), but when I do, what type of oil do I use and are there any alternatives?

Thanks for any input!

jwpettipas · 22nd December 2004, 08:02 PM

=)

Mark · 22nd December 2004, 08:03 PM

That looks like a good start, Joey!

16th December 2004, 02:14 AM	#1
jwpettipas Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 12	A Christmas Project Hi Everybody, My name is Joey and I'm new here to the forums, and knives and swords alike. A friend of mine is coming back home from university for Christmas vacation, and we've been thinking of getting together to work on a small project. We thought trying to take on making a set of daggers would be a great one. The only problem is, we've both never really made knives in our lives. I think this is a great idea, and would like to make a serious go at it. We were thinking of starting small, with readily accessible materials like steel and just cold working our daggers. My question is this, could any of the members of this forum suggest a strategy for approaching this project? Any tips on how to go about fashioning a blade, via links, books, personal experience, etc, would be greatly appreciated. I thank who ever replies to this in advance, and apologize if I have posted on the wrong section of this forum. Regards, Joey Pettipas [editted for spelling]

16th December 2004, 09:00 PM	#9
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	I'd also suggest that Atlanta cutlery has some interesting kit knives and blades for sale (note: I'm not affiliated with them, except as an occasional customer). www.atlantacutlery.com They have dagger blades (some that are really cheap) and an Arkansas toothpick kit. Or you can do as I did as a teenager: I cut down a machete blade with a bolt cutter and mounted it as a sword. I certainly learned a lot about how NOT to mount a blade (the blade is now of constant width, as in a ninjato or some dhas). Recently, I found the blade again and rehilted it as a dha, and I learned about handle shock in those long-handled blades (fun stuff! I wish I had the money for a real dha!). If you like that idea, you could go to www.coldsteel.com, buy one of their two-edged machetes, and try rehilting it as a proper seme. Or not. Have fun! I did stuff like that in high school and college, and it's a lot of fun and a real learning experience. Last edited by fearn; 16th December 2004 at 09:09 PM. Reason: Adding information rather than posting twice

22nd December 2004, 06:41 PM	#10
jwpettipas Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 12	Hey guys, here's my _extremely_ crude first attempt. I spent some time grinding away at this thing this morning, I still have a ways to go yet. She's about 10 inches long. Attached Images

22nd December 2004, 08:02 PM	#12
jwpettipas Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 12	=) Attached Images

16th December 2004, 03:33 AM	#2
Andrew Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: USA Posts: 1,725	I'd advise checking out The Complete Bladesmith : Forging Your Way To Perfection, Jim Hrisoulas. It's available on Amazon.com. Welcome to the forum.

16th December 2004, 03:39 AM	#3
jwpettipas Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 12	Thanks I'm going to check Chapters.ca first, because they're the closest major book store in my area. I'd like to get the book before my friend gets back home, so I can be in the midst of reading it before hand. If that doesn't pan out I'll try our public libraries, then hit up amazon for an order. I suppose we could always make our first attempt unguided, but I'm sure that'll be pandemonea.

16th December 2004, 05:59 AM	#4
TVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 1,620	Perhaps Sword Forum International would be another good place for you to gather information on bladesmithing.

16th December 2004, 06:51 AM	#5
jwpettipas Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 12	Thank you TVV, I've just started looking at the site you posted. It's great =)

16th December 2004, 10:12 AM	#6
Ferguson Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kernersville, NC, USA Posts: 793	Some good tutorials here http://hossom.com/tutorial/jonesy/ http://www.knifenetwork.com/workshop/index.shtml http://www.knifeforums.com/ubbthread...at=&Board=UBB2 Good luck! Steve

16th December 2004, 10:40 AM	#7
jwpettipas Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 12	Awesome links Steve. I did a lot of reading on the site that TVV had mentioned and have just started browsing over the sites you've posted. The Absolute Cheapskate site seems like an extremely easy first approach, and the Knife Network site looks to be promising. I was thinking of making a double-edged dagger on the first go, but maybe that's a little difficult for a first attempt. I guess I wasn't even really sure on the exact style or design to begin with anyway. Never the less, I am getting closer to an attack plan now thanks to the help you're all providing me with. I'll have to post pictures of the monstrosity I make here as soon as it's all together.

16th December 2004, 11:45 AM	#8
BCB Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3	Joey, Here are some links you might find usefull. It was usefull for me. Good luck and let us know the end result. BCB http://www.knifelinksportal.com/ http://www.engnath.com/public/intable.htm http://www.brisa.fi/ http://www.gatherwood.nl/

22nd December 2004, 06:48 PM	#11
jwpettipas Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 12	I'm not quite ready to quench what I'm calling a knife here yet (lots of grinding and sanding to do yet), but when I do, what type of oil do I use and are there any alternatives? Thanks for any input!

22nd December 2004, 08:03 PM	#13
Mark Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 987	That looks like a good start, Joey!