My First Knife - The Stubby Skinner

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
See more from Justturnin

Justturnin

Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2011
Messages
2,235
Location
Houston, Tx
Well, I doubt my mistake...er...um......design is anything revolutionary but I'm happy with the final result.

This is my first attempt at a knife. I cut the blade out of a 10" TS blade. I think I went through all of the steps to get it right but who knows. It was more of a test run all the way around. The blade was about 1" longer but I broke it after I forged it, don't ask. The handle is Stabilized (by me) Texas Pecan Burl finished w/ BLO. I filled the cracks as best I could with Crushed Turqouise, I wish I would have filled them w/ instant coffee. Then there's the Pins. They are swapped, the one w/ the hole for the leather strap should be in back:blush:. I didn't have the correct bits for the pins so they are a bit large. I used Perma-Blu on the steel the darken it.

All and all I am very happy with it and learned so much during this. I doubt this will be my last knife. I just need to build a forge now for tempering.

This bad boy is scary sharp right now. I may go cut some wood to bring it down a notch.

C&C always welcome.

IMG_2411.JPG

IMG_2412.JPG

IMG_2414.JPG
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad

frank123

Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2012
Messages
613
Location
Colorado
Nice first. Looks far better than my first did, I especially like the way you did the handle.

When you get your forge built for heat treating (it's actually fairly easy) I suggest you get some heat treating tool wrap (aka heat treat foil) to wrap the blade in while heat treating it. You'll save a great deal of scale removal and polishing with it, some steels can be brought to a good polish and retain it if you use the wrap to keep the air off the hot steel with little needed to bring back the polish afterwards. (be sure to take it off -without burning yourself- prior to quenching if you are using a liquid quench to avoid a potentially dangerous condition)
 

Drstrangefart

Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2010
Messages
4,258
Location
Woodstock, Ga. U.S.A.
Looks very nice. I wouldn't have noticed any of the issues you ran into if you hadn't pointed them out. Forging my own sword is on the bucket list. If you wanna temper knives, it's pretty easy. Cut the top off a small helium tank, line it with fire brick, feed propane through a modified turkey fryer nozzle, and make a lid for it. Then you just touch it with a magnet once it's glowing. If it's no longer ferrous, it's at critical temperature and ready to quench.
 

holmqer

Local Chapter Leader
Joined
Aug 3, 2007
Messages
1,662
Location
CT, USA.
Great job, I've made a couple knives from purchased blades, but never my own blade, so I really appreciate the effort involved.
 

Justturnin

Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2011
Messages
2,235
Location
Houston, Tx
Good job on your first one! Be careful though, knifemaking is as addicting as pen turning.
Phil

Hey, I don't have a problem!!!!:mad::mad:
I can stop anytime. My life does not revolve arount Pens and Knives:frown::frown:

Ohhh who and I kidding. I need help......:tongue:

I really enjoyed making this knife. It got a bit more satisfaction knowing that in a way I made the blade myself, though I did not make the saw blade that I cut it out of. I already have the next set of scales stabilized and cut ready to go. Just been so rainy, thank the Lord, that I have not been able to get out and move forward on it. If it comes out nice it will go to my father-in-law. Then I have a nice thick antler that I am going to try to make into a handle for a knife for my B-I-L. Well then there's my nephews and my other B-I-L ohhh crap, I better stop while I can.:bulgy-eyes:
 

Russianwolf

Member
Joined
Jul 13, 2007
Messages
5,690
Location
Martinsburg, WV, USA.
easy fix on the pins.

drill out the back one and get a brass rod that barely fits in the front, peen it with a hammer/punch and she'll never budge. And it'll look like you intended it to be that way.

Nice skinner.
 

KenV

Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2005
Messages
4,720
Location
Juneau, Alaska.
Nice knife -- Gas forges are pretty straight forward and most adequate for heat treat and forging.

I temper in the electric oven -- simple, accurate and reliable and you get just the loss of brittle you want according to the steel specs.

Keep them coming!!!
 

Justturnin

Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2011
Messages
2,235
Location
Houston, Tx
Thanks everyone. I cant wait to make another.

so that blade is made out of a used table saw blade? impressive. thanks for sharing

Yea, I used my grinder to cut it out. You can see a bit of damage that is because I started w/ what I had which was a 1/4" thick wheel. I stopped that and ran to the big box and got a thin wheel and it was no problem.

I should get 3-4 more small blades from this.
2012-08-07%252009.32.14.jpg
 

Justturnin

Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2011
Messages
2,235
Location
Houston, Tx
Look'n good to me. I like the turquoise fill an think you made a good choice there. Knives are certainly on my bucket list. Is there a good forum out there for beginners?

I'd like to know that too! Haven't got a clue where to start!!


There are many knife forums but I have not really gotten into them. I learn better in the beginning visually so I start on youtube. No body really shows every step completely but after you watch a few you will get them all.
 
Top Bottom