Bladesmithing: Bladesmithing for Beginners: Make Your First Knife in 7 Steps

By Wes Sander

If you want to make your first knife without breaking the bank with expensive machinery, then keep reading...

Are you a beginner bladesmith looking to make his first knife?

Are you looking for an inexpensive way to get started?

Are you worried that you will need a lot of tools to get started?

Are you afraid of mistakes you might make with your first project?

Have you ever felt like making a knife, and realized that reliable sources of information on bladesmithing were scarce and expensive?

I, Wes Sander, will share the secrets of making your first knife in 7 steps.

In this book you will discover:

• The most cost-effective method to make your first knife

• The only 4 tools you need to make your first knife

• How to set up a good workshop, without breaking the bank with expensive machinery

• The #1 high-performance steel you should use to make knives

• The correct grit range of sandpapers you should use while hand sanding your knife

• How to get a satin finish on your knife, without using power tools

• 1 sharpening mistake that could ruin the entire edge of your knife

• How to heat treat 1095 steel, without risking it to warp or shatter

• 1 simple test that will determine the sharpness of your knife

• How to get good grind lines, without using a grinding jig

• How to repair knife warps after heat treatment

• A simple technique, used by master bladesmiths, that will prevent your blade from shattering, even if it's your first time making a knife

This book has been made to avoid as much of the complicated jargon related to bladesmithing as possible, and the whole idea is to keep the book simple.

Here are the answers to some questions you might have about this book:

Q: What is this book about?

A: This book is a guide to making your first knife in 10 steps.

Q: I have never done any kind of metal work before. Will it be easy for me to start?

A: Yes. Even though the steps inside are simple, they have been explained in fair detail. You can make your first knife with the help of this book, even if you have never lifted a hammer before.

Q: Do I need to have tools before I read this book?

A: Only the bare minimum are required. You can even start with just 4 quality hand tools to make your first knife.

The goal of this book is to make sure that you spend as less time reading while applying the knowledge in this book.

I want you to get through this book quickly and start making knives.

Every day that you delay, is another day that you deny your own desire for making knives.
 

Take action and buy this book now!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wes Sander
• Release date: Sep 20, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393228035

Book preview

Bladesmithing for Beginners

Make Your First Knife in 7 Steps

© Copyright 2019 - All rights reserved.

The content contained within this book may not be reproduced, duplicated or transmitted without direct written permission from the author or the publisher.

Under no circumstances will any blame or legal responsibility be held against the publisher, or author, for any damages, reparation, or monetary loss due to the information contained within this book, either directly or indirectly.

Legal Notice:

This book is copyright protected. It is only for personal use. You cannot amend, distribute, sell, use, quote or paraphrase any part, or the content within this book, without the consent of the author or publisher.

Disclaimer Notice:

Please note the information contained within this document is for educational and entertainment purposes only. All effort has been executed to present accurate, up to date, reliable, complete information. No warranties of any kind are declared or implied. Readers acknowledge that the author is not engaging in the rendering of legal, financial, medical or professional advice. The content within this book has been derived from various sources. Please consult a licensed professional before attempting any techniques outlined in this book.

By reading this document, the reader agrees that under no circumstances is the author responsible for any losses, direct or indirect, that are incurred as a result of the use of information contained within this document, including, but not limited to, errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Tools of the Trade

Tools for Your Workspace

Tools for Smithing

Starting With Steel

Chapter 2: Anatomy of a Knife

Basic Anatomy

Advanced Anatomy

Knowing the Knife

Blade Profiles

Designing a Knife

Creating a Template

Chapter 3: Making a Knife By Stock Removal

A Couple of Tips to Remember

Chapter 4: Forging a Knife (Full Tang Knife)

A Game Plan

Working With Steel

Chapter 5: Grinding Good Bevel Lines

A Note Before Grinding

Creating a Grind

Tips for Grinding

How Thin Should The Edge Be?

Chapter 6: Heat Treating

Heat Treatment for 1095 steel

Heat Treatment for 1084 steel

Eliminating Blemishes and Scaling After Heat Treatment

Polishing

Truing Your Knife

Bolster

Finger Guard

Chapter 7: Handle

Sanding and Shaping the Handle

Finishing the Knife

Chapter 8: The Final Processes

Sharpening Your Knife

Making Tongs

Conclusion

References

Introduction

One of the earliest knives made from smelted metal was discovered in a tomb in Anatolia. It was dated to the year 2,500 BC. However, iron was not included as a vital material in the making of knives until the year 500 BC.

Since then, the metal took new importance in crafting of various tools and implements. Greeks, Celts, Egyptians, and Vikings began to use iron into their metalworks. It was not until the development and discovery of steel that metalwork took on a whole new form.

We have come a long way since the first time man discovered the use of iron. Back then, the tools and knives that were produced were crude implements. They were there to serve a necessity and made using simple techniques.

Today, knife making is a process. It starts with finding the right steel, forging the knife, then subjecting the tool to an annealing and normalizing process. It is then shaped with grinding, heat treated, quenched, and finally tempered.

While our ancestors may not have been particularly careful about their working conditions, we should always make sure that we protect ourselves.

●  Implement the use of safety glasses to protect our eyes from unwanted materials - such as hot metal and sharp debris - from flying into our eyes.

●  Hearing protection is vital since prolonged exposure to loud sounds (for example, the noise of metal grinding) can affect hearing.

●  Use a respirator to protect from tiny dust and other particles that can enter the lungs and cause permanent damage.

●  Do not wear shorts, even on hot days. Hot sparks can fly off the metal and burn the skin.

●  Put on leather bibs so that any stray spark hits a layer of fireproof material rather than your clothes.

●  Tie up long hair when working with tools and metals. Make sure to secure a longer beard or keep them away using other means during metalworking.

●  Since you are just starting, get comfortable using gloves. Eventually, they can become optional as you gain experience working with metals. But for now, better to err on the side of caution.

Most importantly, have fun in the process. Don’t be afraid to experiment. After all, it is only through experimentation that you can find out what you should do and what you are not supposed to do. Familiarize yourself with the basics and put the things you learn into practice.

Mistakes happen. That’s alright. You may find out that your knives break or you have an oddly shaped object in your hands. Remember, there are only two things that are going to happen during knife making:

●  You make a knife, whether it is perfect or not.

●  You learn a lesson.

The lessons you learn are one of the most important aspects of knife making. You go from making regular knives to creating something like the below.

Figure 1: An intricately carved knife.

So do not easily despair when you are working on your knife. Keep your focus on what you want to achieve, and you will get there eventually.

Take your time to understand the steps and information provided in this book. Make sure you know what you are working with and keep trying until you perfect it.

With that, let’s dive deeper into bladesmithing for beginners.

Chapter 1: Tools of the Trade

This book has been designed to include as little fillers as possible. This allows you to jump into a process and start working on it immediately. One way to approach this book is to read a chapter then apply it in real life. Try practicing and understanding the techniques in each section before you move on to the next one. This will allow you to absorb the information better and memorize a method before you begin with the next.

But before you even begin working on

Reviews for Bladesmithing

[24HR Airgunner Channel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very good read informative and very helpful for the beginner