Despite the fact that on sale now there are knives for almost every taste, many craftsmen prefer to make them yourself. Making a good knife is not so simple - for this you need to have not only the appropriate tools, but also a certain skill.
Instruction manual
1
First, create a life-size sketch of the future knife on paper. Try several options and choose the best one. Remember that an error at this stage can negate all further work. Therefore, take your time, carefully consider the design and ergonomics of the future knife.
2
When designing a knife, do not forget that there are legislative restrictions on the manufacture and circulation of knives. The main features of knives are: blade length greater than 10 cm, butt thickness greater than 2.6 mm, steel hardness above 42 HRC, the presence of a guard. Your knife should not fall under this law in at least one parameter.
3
Find the right materials for the blade and handle. The blade should be made of high-quality steel, the handle can be made of wood, plexiglass, textolite, horn and other materials.
4
Heat the metal strip for the blade red-hot (you can use it in a conventional gas oven or blowtorch) and let it cool slowly. The metal will become soft, it will be easy to process.
5
Mark the contours of the blade and shank on the metal strip. The blank of the future knife can be cut down with a chisel, cut out with a hacksaw for metal, cut with a "grinder". Give the workpiece the final contours by turning it on an electric grinder. During operation, do not forget to cool the metal in water.
6
If you plan to rivet the handle halves with rivets, mark and drill holes for them in the workpiece shank. Then process the future knife with an electric sharpener, giving it the desired section, tapering to the edge of the blade. If necessary, consistently treat the knife with an emery cloth, from coarse to the smallest.
7
Temper the future knife. You should know that proper hardening is a whole art with its professional secrets. It is enough to heat an ordinary high-quality household knife to a raspberry color and lower it vertically, with the tip down, first into mineral oil - until emergence of a tint color (rainbow), then into water.
8
Make a handle. If it is from two halves, cut them out, rivet them to the knife with rivets - they can be made from an aluminum bar - and work on a sharpener. If the handle is solid, drill a hole in it, then fit it onto the shank on epoxy mixed with sawdust.
9
Use a hilt, wood bark, colored pieces of plexiglass, or other suitable material. Fit matching pieces to the shank, at the end of which cut the thread in advance. Lubricate spread pieces with glue. Screw a bronze or brass head onto the shank with a hole drilled in it and a thread cut by a tap. Process the assembled handle, giving it the desired shape.
10
The final finish of the knife comes down to fine-tuning its shape and correct sharpening. If necessary, make a sheath of two wooden or plastic halves, cut, taking into account the allowance, in the shape of the blade. In the halves, make a notch along the contour of the blade - so that it comes in with a little friction, then glue them and tighten with leather.
