Knife for a Friend - Design to Heat Treat

Last month, I made a knife for myself with the intent to wear it in the small of the back. The truth is, I enjoy making knives, but making the sheaths for them had really turned into a chore. Knowing that making a sheath was just as much a part of the process as making the knife itself, I just slowed way down and started making fewer. But for this most recent knife, the canted SOB sheath idea I wanted was beyond the skill I have working with kydex. Fortunately, a friend I work with is accomplished at making kydex pistol holsters and was willing to give a custom knife sheath a shot. He and I have collaborated once before, for a mutual friend who was deploying, but this one was a bit more complex. Anyway, his execution of the idea was just excellent, and his innovation really showed in the way he solved a couple of my design problems. I've been wearing it almost daily since.



In exchange for the sheath, I am making him a similar sized knife, that'll have just a slightly thicker handle when done. It's still narrow and of a very useful size. While making this one, I took it slow and photo'd some of the steps along the way. Nothing too groundbreaking, but maybe interesting if knives are your thing...

Outline sketched out in perm marker on a piece of O1

Here a grinding to shape shot, sparks and all. No joke, this $40 Harbor Freight 1x30 belt sander has kept on kicking and cranked out probably around 50 blades and 100 handles.

Rough ground to shape

With the tang holes drilled and beveled and the grind mostly there

Still using a one brick forge, which is why my blades don't ever exceed 4". Even at that length, I have to keep the blade moving the whole times it's heating so the temp rises evenly. If I ever do make that next step up to making knives for sale, a true temperature heat treat oven will be on the list.

Fresh out of the oil quench and before the temper

The steps between the forge firing up and knife coming out of quench are all so manual and timed that I couldn't get good pictures of those steps. I could use a third hand as it is, really! Anyway, I'll share some pictures of the finished product in the next day or so, but it'll be my usual primitive style. Except from my wife, who does not understand why I'd want to make a new knife look old, I've had a lot of positive feedback on the scorched wood and soaked jute. It's tough and functional, so I'll stay with it.