Cool knife, F3.
Quote:
Originally Posted by glatt
This thread is interesting, and the timing is good too. My son wants to make a knife, but I have no real tools for it. Plus, I don't allow him to use power tools yet. I showed him where I have a scrap bar of steel, and where the hack saw and files are. He filed on that bar for about 60 seconds before giving up. In 7 years he will be old enough to join the local blacksmith club and use their shop.
|
How old is he? Do you have to be 18 to join the club?
If you find a smith to talk to, he might have your son in to get some hands on learning. I've read in knife magazines about kids as young as 8 forging and finishing knives (with strict adult supervision).
They do have blades you can buy and then just finish them from there. It's a lower barrier to "making a knife." The kit blades go from simple fixed blades to complex folders. Most of them let you mix and match handle materials, pins, bolster, etc.
I've heard good things about
Knife Kits and
USA Knife Maker.
Also, if the steel is not annealed it's going to be significantly harder to cold work.