Knife making

[gumuman]

Hi

I'm looking to start making my own knives but I'm struggling to get my hands on some 01 or 1075 carbon steel. I have no access to a forge so was thinking maybe 5mm plate steel and cutting and grinding (in a complete beginner so if I'm being stupid I apologise)



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[Dave Budd]

there are threads all over this forum and others letting you know where to buy O1, try doing a forum search

one off the top of the list will be Cromwells

1075 in this country will be sold as CS70 or EN42, depending on the section you buy, its not an off the shelf steel but had from proper steel suppliers where you buy a lot of it rather than the odd bar. Such as Argent steel stock it

 

[Shovel]

Right, the odd piece of 5mm isn't ideal for knifemaking. It will not heat treat well, and won't make a very usable knife.

 

[Zingmo]

Have you considered starting with an old file?

Z

 

[Stew]

Right, the odd piece of 5mm isn't ideal for knifemaking. It will not heat treat well, and won't make a very usable knife.

That's a very sweeping statement!

 

[Tat2trev]

That's a very sweeping statement!

Im with stew !!! Most of my knives I own are less than 5mm in thickness ?????

 

[Perrari]

Shovel - Why will 5mm not heat treat very well ?? It will take longer than 4mm to heat up but less than 6mm but will heat treat ok.


Gumuman - Buck & Hickman is another place to get '01' search for 'Ground flat stock' then you will get various size options. Depending on what style of knife you want to make, you may be better off using 3 or 4mm to start with. - less expensive & less grinding.

 

[gumuman]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions like I said I'm a total noobie and have been reading some bits on this forum and others. The tempering is that part worrying the most but I'm looking forward to trying

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[robevs73]

Make something small and thin first,

 

[Macaroon]

I can't think of any need for a knife of 5 mm thickness, unless it was to be used for a very specialised purpose and then I think it would go under a different name, eg billhoog, machete etc. Most of mine have been 3mm,
and one is 4mm, and I've never come anywhere close to breaking one. If I ever did it'd be because I was using the wrong tool for the job.

My first fixed blade was a William Rodgers Bushman's friend which my father bought for me to take to my first Scout camp in 1963, blade is nearly 5" long and only about 2.5mm thick, and even as a callow youth I never managed to damage it - I still have it now.......

 

[gumuman]

I ordered some 3mm steal earlier. What I'm going for is a simple woodlore type knife which I found a good template online for. After reading a few posts here I believe this may become an addictive hobby

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[robevs73]

Dont start , it can consume all your time.

 

[Shovel]

Sorry, when i said the odd piece of 5mm wouldn't work well, I said that because he said "5mm plate steel" and that he was struggling to get his hands on tool steel, so I assumed this piece of 5mm was mild or medium carbon steel. Sorry for the misconception.

 

[Bladeophile]

I started out modding dirt cheap chinese made chisels (I hear groans!!!) But wait - the results have been really surprising re edge holding. Look up Scott Beck blade smith on Youtube re differential HT with gas torch, gives more sophisticated results rather than just shoving it in the oven.
Later I made a 7" survival knife from Hitachi Hi speed steel. This is 1/4 " flat stock. Great results so far on edge integrity. Made the hard way with large files. You don't need all the big boys machines to make a largish blade.

 

[Bladeophile]

Dont start , it can consume all your time.

So true robevs so true!