Plowshares to swords

[Powdog]

As a diversion from the “Do You…” threads, I thought I’d share something kinda cool. Years ago I started making knives out of old tool steel, something my grandfather had done during WWII for neighbor kids who were overseas. I got my son and nephew involved, putting old Nicholson files in a burn pile to remove the temper, then grinding and shaping them before returning them to a homemade forge to re-temper them.

My nephew took it to the next step and is a bona fide knife maker (as well as a pharmacist) and makes incredible knives. His custom blades bring big bucks on the internet and has bidders waiting in line.

This is one of the last blades I made. A thin Nicholson mill bastard shaped into a skinner. The stag handles came off a buck I found on the side of the road. I live up country and that happens a lot. My nephew was kind enough to put the final grinds on the blade, which are perfect. I love the way you can still see the file detail.

Any other knife fanatics?

 

[Powdog]

The process.

 

[kuch]

I knew you were an amp craftsman, and this is right up there too. cool stuff

 

[Kev-wilson]

A couple of half round files into scrapers and the old recycled machine hacksaw blade is as near as I get!

I’ve had the same finger mindst you

 

[tery]

Sharp

 

[Powdog]

My nephew makes some amazing blades, usually some kind of fancy Damascus steel and unusual scales.

 

[eallen]

Nice work! I played doing a few knives & handles in my younger years and always enjoyed it but nothing this level!

 

[Powdog]

He sells them auction style on Instagram, gets more for one than I get for one of my amps.

Boy did I choose poorly.

 

[Festofish]

I really like my Keyshawn Leek but that’s about as far as I go. I removed the manual safety.

 

[Axis29]

I make marking knives, and blades for marking tools a lot in the shop. I purchased a couple of cheap Harbor Freight files to make knives out of, but haven’t had any spare time since to actually knock them out.

Nothing fancy like you guys…. But, I always have about go-zillion recip blades that are worn out! LOL I do save my full kerf table saw blades for things like this, too.

 

[Powdog]

I kinda have a thing for the Nicholson carbon steel files, the older the better. The new ones are made in China out of crap slag.

The three on the right have been annealed.

 

[Powdog]

Big tooth rasps make really cool blades.

 

[HaWE]

Great craftsmanship and interesting knifes. I am not a knife fanatic but I like that sort of knifes ( I own some hunting knifes and bowies ) and also any kind of metal tools.I also like to work with iron, wood or leather and create something out of it , but sure not at that level of skill.

 

[Pete_from_PGW]

I keep all of my old lawn mower blades with the thought of doing just that. I have about 6 blades from a 42" mower. No idea if it is the right steel though.

 

[Medeltids]

I knew a guy who made swords out of chainsaw bars. The long ones timber fallers use. I grew up in a lumber town so they were plentiful.
His swords where “scary sharp”. Heavy and dangerous.