About Homemade Knives

Making knives at home is an art form for the serious collector and a hobby for others. People who enjoy the challenge of pairing a unique design with a functioning knife appreciate the techniques required for this process. Homemade knives can be as simple as a blade with a grip or as complicated as a curved utensil with a hand carved, intricately designed work of art as a handle. Homemade knife enthusiasts will tell you that the best part of making their own knives lies in executing the design of their choice.

Types

There are several different types of homemade knives. Throwing knives, crooked knives, carving knives and hunting knives are some of the different types of knives you can make at home.

Function

Making your own knives requires knowledge of working with metal and wood. Constructing straight forward knives for throwing, carving, and hunting use the same basic techniques as making a crooked knife. Crooked knives are a versatile tool used by carvers, craftsmen and carpenters to make bowls, furniture, musical instruments or anything requiring an organic shape. Knife throwing is a specialized skill practiced professionally and by hobbyists all over the world. Professional knife throwers rarely use handles, but hobbyists make their homemade throwing knives with handles for beauty, craftsmanship, and ease of use. Carving and hunting knives have everyday functions and can be made easier than either the crooked knife or the throwing knife.

Features

Throwing knives are shaped differently than other knives and do not have sharp edges or sharp points. They can also be expensive if purchased. Crooked knives have a curved blade that is designed to carve intricate designs in wood. Hunting and carving knives are straight with sharp points and sharp edges on one or both sides, depending on their use. The handles of homemade knives can be cut or carved from hardwood, bone, or fashioned from leather.

Considerations

Making a homemade knife requires high carbon steel, a propane torch, ceramic wool, a hacksaw, steel bolts and nuts, sandpaper, files, a drill or a drill press and vice grips for the basic knife designs. Draw your knife on paper first, then transfer your design to the steel. The process of heating the steel and shaping it should be carefully considered in the design of your knife as fancy curves look good on paper, but are not easy to construct.

Benefits

Homemade knives are custom made to the user's specifications. The length, width, sharpness and edge design are precisely detailed for each individual or particular use. Homemade knives are less expensive that knives that are purchased in a retail store while offering customization that is priceless.

Resources

• Information about Knife Making