Here are the last two knives I finished:
Archive for the knifemaking Category
Custom Hunting Knife
Posted in Blacksmithing, bladesmithing, Forging, knifemaking, metalwork, Tool Making with tags Camping, custom knife, edc, forged, hunting knife, Knife on July 20, 2018 by JimA little hunter I just finished up with some progress pics. It is 1084 steel with a stabilized box elder burl handle and a brass guard.
Just off the anvil.
Forging done and profiled.
Ricasso flattened in preparation for laying out for grinding and for fitting the guard.
Starting to fit the brass guard with a guard press.
The guard slotted and rough shaped.
Laying out the blade on the handle material.
Thanks for looking – happy making,
Jim
Instagram hammer-in August 26th!
Posted in Blacksmithing, bladesmithing, Forging, knifemaking, metalwork, Tool Making with tags blacksmithing, bladesmithing, Forging, instagramhammerin, knifemaking on August 23, 2017 by Jim
Saturday August 26th, 2017 (1pm CDT) – four of us are going to do an Instagram hammer-in (#instagramhammerin) for you all to watch. We will each forge a knife of our own design, starting with the same sized stock, forge for two hours, and show a picture of the blade every 10 minutes or so.
There will be four smiths working ABS Mastersmith Lin Rhea, Forged in Fire contestant Robert Burns (Wilderness Ironworks) , blacksmith instructor Matt Jenikns (Cloverdale Forge), and me.
This is not a contest. No prizes will be awarded – it’s just for fun and hopefully the pictures will be an educational resource for new bladesmiths.
We hope you follow along, ask questions, and enjoy these great smiths (and me) showing us their forging step by step. Follow along by watching the hashtag #instagramhammerin
A Brut de Forge Dagger from 2016
Posted in Blacksmithing, bladesmithing, brutdeforge, EDC, knifemaking, Leather working, metalwork, Uncategorized with tags americanbladesmithsociety, blacksmithing, bladesmithing, brutdeforge, copper, dagger, handmade, joekeeslar, knife making, knife sheath, leatherwork, sterlingsilver on December 13, 2016 by JimI met Joe Keeslar this year at the ICCE knife show this year and I wanted to make a dagger in his style. Below are some photos of the process.
Here it the initial forging. I started with 1.5″ x 1/4″ 1084 steel:
Here is the forging complete:
Profiled and finish ground:
Then a mystery wood handle (rosewood or ironwood, not sure – it was a gift):
A handle detail showing the sterling silver and copper pins:
I etched my logo:
I also made the sheath:
And here is the entire package:
This was a really fun build – it pushed my abilities in both blade and sheath and I am happy with how it turned out.
Thanks for looking – keep making,
Jim
Drop Point Hunter Knife Pattern
Posted in knifemaking, Tool Making, Woodworking on December 2, 2015 by JimNo tutorial today, but process pics.
I am working on a drop point hunting knife and was not sure from my sketches if it was going to feel how I wanted. I needed to hold it.
I ground the blade just as if it was steel – but it is cherry. I also roughed in the guard and handle in walnut.
Here it is with the ‘blade’ glued in and the handle shaped.
It might seem silly to rough it out all in wood – but holding it in my hand told me what I needed to know. If all goes well, I will post pics of the real knife soon. This one is a drag to keep sharp…
Happy Making,
Jim
Loveless Style Hunting Knife in O1
Posted in Blacksmithing, EDC, Forging, knifemaking, Leather working, metalwork, Tool Making with tags 01 steel, edc, handmade knife, hunting knife, loveless bolts, loveless drop point, micarta, pocket knife on January 7, 2014 by JimI started this knife quite a while ago. It has been sitting on my bench for over a year – until now.
I made it to be part of a hunting set and showed the smaller first knife here quite a while ago.
Here are the two knives finally together.
I carry the smaller knife as a fixed blade edc pocket knife.
They are both 01 steel with green micarta handles and red liners. The blade on the larger one is about 3″.
I also made the sheath and to be honest – I almost enjoyed that as much as making the knife.
Happy Making and new year to you,
Jim
Integral Knife forged from 52100
Posted in Blacksmithing, Forging, knifemaking, metalwork, Tool Making with tags 52100, blacksmithing, bladesmithing, hand forged knife, stag handle on November 4, 2013 by JimI recently got a beautiful integral fixed blade knife from Master Smith Ray Kirk. I like it so much that I had to try and make one for myself. I bought a couple 3/8″ round bars of the 52100 from Ray and here is what I came up with:
Thanks to my friend Dave from Circle H forge for the beautiful piece of stag.
Lots of folks have been helping me with all this. Ray spent an hour walking me through how to make a blade like this.
Also, Master Smith Lin Rhea is always there with an answer to anything I need help with.
I have come to find that the folks in the American Bladesmith Society are just some of the best people out there.
-Happy Making,
Jim
Making a fixed blade pocket knife in O1 and micarta for every day carry
Posted in EDC, knifemaking, Leather working, metalwork with tags bob loveless, edc, everyday carry, knifemaking, leather sheath, micarta on September 8, 2011 by JimI got to spend a great day with my dad making knives. I have been interested lately in having a fixed blade pocket knife so, I put together this pattern and we each made the same knife.
Here is how mine turned out:
It is sized like a neck knife, but I specifically designed it to be carried as an EDC (every day carry) pocket knife.
And here it is in its sheath. I made the sheath with the Loveless style cam so it makes a great ‘snap’ when you put it away.
It is comfortable in my front pocket or the leg pocket in my work pants.
Happy Making,
Jim
Two Bob Loveless Style Hunters in 01
Posted in knifemaking, metalwork with tags bob loveless, hunting knife, knife making on August 27, 2011 by JimI plan to make this a set of three knives. I have two roughed out and plan to cut the third in a similar style to the Loveless chute knife.
Here is how far I got tonight.
These are in 01 steel.
Happy making,
Jim
Make Stuff With Your Hands 