Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Primitive Skills => Topic started by: Ifrit617 on September 26, 2010, 12:38:37 pm

Title: Knives?
Post by: Ifrit617 on September 26, 2010, 12:38:37 pm
Hey everybody,

Has anyone here ever made knives out of welders steel? Does it hold a good edge or is it not suitable for making any serious working tools? What other easiely available things have you made knives from? ( other than stone) 
Title: Re: Knives?
Post by: sailordad on September 26, 2010, 01:12:58 pm
dont know what welders steel is
but leaf springs from trucks work
also skill saw blades
Title: Re: Knives?
Post by: bryan irwin on September 26, 2010, 06:51:38 pm
old files edger blades old cross cut saws makes a good knife.
Title: Re: Knives?
Post by: GregB on September 27, 2010, 02:16:17 pm
I've been making mine from saw mill blades a good friend has been supplying me.
Title: Re: Knives?
Post by: Josh on September 27, 2010, 06:10:18 pm
^^aint nothin wrong with Greg's knives, either... I got to handle a few last year at the Tenn. Classic and they were very professionally made and were very sharp.  I have used skil saw and lawn edger blades to make them before too and they turned out very functional.  As long as you are careful not to get the metal too hot when you cut out your blade blank, you don't even have to anneal them and re temper the metal to keep an edge, either.  :)
Title: Re: Knives?
Post by: crooketarrow on October 23, 2010, 12:53:58 pm
    I've also use old saw milll blades for years.
Title: Re: Knives?
Post by: rover brewer on December 04, 2010, 10:51:46 pm
one way to test and you would need extra metal to this, a good heat source, magnet. heat the metal until it very red try and touch the magnet to it when the magnet is no longer attracted to it the metal is hot enough to quench in water when its cold try and break by putting it in a vise or hit on a hard surface if it breaks easy like glass and doesn't bend at all than it is good knife making metal.magnet that you can get from auto zone with telescopic handle works best .
Title: Re: Knives?
Post by: _Jon_ on December 06, 2010, 12:06:08 am
Made this one out of a saw mill band saw blade.  Worked like a charm.

(http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee207/deltonn/IMG_3542.jpg)
Title: Re: Knives?
Post by: GregB on December 06, 2010, 09:28:15 am
Jon, got that beauty of a knife of yours still, have to get started making a sheath. Been getting side-tracked here lately, but you know I'll get er done for you!  ;)
Title: Re: Knives?
Post by: _Jon_ on December 06, 2010, 07:29:10 pm
It's all good Greg we got lots of time.  Take as long as you need buddy.
Title: Re: Knives?
Post by: sulphur on December 08, 2010, 07:43:52 pm
i've been using welders steel from lowe's to practice on.  it does hold an edge but not like really good steel. as far as im concerned its good for broadheads and simple things but not for great knives.