My first forged knife

[Joff]

A few weeks ago I took a magical mystery tour to meet with Dave Budd (www.davebuddknives.homestead.com) for a day of him teaching me to forge knives. Brave soul! I think he did a great job because I actually have something that looks like a knife - more of a testament to his teaching than to my skill. Well here it is - it is still not entirely finished but I couldn't wait to show it off.

I can't remember what type of steel I used but it did need a lot of hammering!

The scales are made out of oak and these still need some more sanding and then oiling.

It has a full tang that is tapered and lightened and I used brass pins. I decided to get a bit flash and do some file work on the spine as well.

It hasn't been sharpened yet and I'm going back to Dave soon to learn how to make a sheath for it.

I had a great day, I learnt loads and Dave was a great (and patient) teacher. He is a down to earth sort of guy and is very happy to impart as much knowledge as you can absorb. I will post pictures when it is finished in its entirety.

Thanks for looking

Joff

 

[weaver]

That is a great looking blade! Fresh off the forge and no grinding done yet, it is well shaped and tapered. Can't wait to see it finished.

 

[Joff]

Me too! It's finding the time to get it finished that's the problem!!!!

 

[Dave Budd]

Hey that's looking a lot better with the handle stuck on makes it look like a knife if you know what I mean That piece of oak looks like it has some real potential in it too don't forget teh wetting-drying-sanding cycles

folks, just wait til he has a sheath and a cutting edge on it too! The blade was forged from 1/2" round EN45 and edge quenched, tempered to 60RC. It's areally tough steel and good for learning on.

here is the knife that I'm making alongside (please excuse the rubbish photos, they were taken at night with bad flash)

good students learn well and make goodknives. This is a good knife

 

[Joff]

Thanks Dave. I'm rather proud of it but I did have a good teacher

 

[fredcraft]

Great knife Joff !

I don't know why, but I seem to prefer rough finish like the 2 knives pictures in this post. Perhaps it's because I'm not affraid to "leave a mark" on it !

 

[Joff]

Up until I made that knife I always liked the shiny blades and didn't really care for the rough and ready look. That's all changed now that I have made something with my own hands and I just love the look. It will be a real user

 

[JonnyP]

nice one Joff.....

 

[sprite]

I really like the look of that! Very rustic. It must be a great feeling to make something like that yourself - very satisfying.

Be nice to see the finished article

 

[nipper]

Thats a good looking knife Jon

I have a sneaky feeling Ross is about to become a forge widow.

Have you started making your forge yet

Nick

 

[Joff]

I'll have to pick your brains about the bits I'll need and the construction but I reckon I'll have one up and running soon. It's just too much fun not too!

I've still got to go back to Dave and learn the sheath making part but I'm looking forward to that and Ros is going to come along too as she wants to get into leatherwork (lucky me )

 

[Ogri the trog]

Excellent work both of you.
I can feel the pull of hammering hot steel drawing me ever closer - perhaps its time I stoked the kitchen fire up a bit.....

Cheers for the encouragement.

Ogri the trog

 

[Nightwalker]

Yeah I've got the knife making bug too! Just this evening myself and a friend quenched our first knifes. We were inspired by watching Greenpete's knife making video and then just this evening I thought I would document our simple but effective forge that we've made to work with our steel.

Check out my vid:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53ZeRtF5t44

 

[Joff]

I love the simplicity of your forge. That's great

 

[Nightwalker]

I love the simplicity of your forge. That's great

Thanks Works bloody great too

 

[spamel]

I like the knife a lot. Dunno what it is that appeals to me about the more rough and rustic knives, but I just like them a lot. I may have to invest in one sometime, and given a chance even make my own! I aim to mak it to one of these hammerins one day soon, hopefully that will be my opportunity!

 

[Joff]

It's well worth it Spamel because it is just so satisfying creating something from a piece of metal rod (in this case) that is going to be used and useful. Once it's all finished then I might do a little review about how well it copes with 'normal' use!

Give it a go .... you know you want too!

 

[spamel]

I keep seeing pieces of unknown steel at the steel works I'm currently doing haulage at (temporarily, I might add!), and was wondering aboupicking a few bits up and maybe using them one day to have a play. I did some blacksmithing on my apprenticeship years ago and made a cold chisel and a centre punch. I would have preffered to be able to make a knife!

 

[Joff]

Seriously, give it a go. Even if the metal is not suitable it would be a good pracice of the skills. If you enjoyed it then you can get some decent stuff in and do a proper job.