Knife from a saw blade

[Rancid Crabtree]

This blade is over an 1/8 of an inch thick. I am using a 24 inch diameter concrete saw blade.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/knives/sawblade.jpg

I cut a chunk of it away with a angle grinder.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/knives/bigknife2.jpg

This will be a hunting knife with a drop point and a finger guard.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/knives/bigknife3.jpg

This is a very thick blade.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/knives/bigknife4.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/knives/bigknife5.jpg

Next, I heated the blade cherry red and let it cool very slowly to soften the steel. so I could drill hole and grind a bevel and do some file work.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/knives/bigknife92.jpg

this time I am going to do a "W" pattern on the backbone of the blade. I marked off the spacing with a sharpie.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/knives/bigknife6.jpg

Then I used a small square file on one side of the blade.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/knives/bigknife7.jpg

Then turned the blade around and did the other side.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/knives/bigknife8.jpg

I added a little bluing to bring out the details.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/knives/bigknife9.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/knives/bigknife91.jpg

With all the file work done, I heat treated the blade by heating it until it was non magnetic (around 1500F) and then quenched it in 130F salt water. Next I temper it at 400F for one hour. Finally I polish the blade to a mirror finish.

I used curly maple and aluminum pins. I'm calling it "Blonde"

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/knives/bigknife93.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/knives/bigknife94.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/knives/bigknife95.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/knives/bigknife96.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/knives/bigknife97.jpg

[Rancid Crabtree]

The last step is to make a sheath. I use 7 Oz. Veg. tanned leather and then dye it to the color I want after I sew it.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/knives/bigknife992.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/knives/bigknife994.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/knives/bigknife995.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/knives/bigknife993.jpg

Another knife from the same saw blade with alum. bolsters and a Cocbolo handle. I also used homemade mosaic pins.

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/knives/bolster7.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/knives/bolster8.jpg

[skeet]

Good grief Rancid.. You are a handy person. If I had tried to make a knife such as that I would be minus a finger or two. Looks good. And I am jealous..wish I had the talent

[FIJI]

Is there anything you cant do ??


This is on my wish list:

http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/product/chisel-utility-knife-56764.aspx?kw=chisel&processor=content#detailtabs

[Rancid Crabtree]

Is there anything you cant do ??



Yes and my wife is generating a list. :)

[Jack]

Those are really beautiful knives.

[GoodOlBoy]

Really fine work there. That old saw blade steel is great stuff, too bad it is so hard to come by around here these days. A few years back I could have picked up three BIG sawmill blades, but just never had the money to grab them, and alas they are gone by the wayside.

Richard

[skeeter@ccia.com]

Great detail in the process.. thanks... my question is what do you use to polish it to such a finish without scratches? You need to make a book or 2 like they did with the Foxfire books. I would be in line to get them. How to make anything and everything.

[Rancid Crabtree]

Lots of sanding all the way up to 1500 grit and then a flannel buffing wheel with polishing compound.