How to Forge a Knife

The knife was one of the first tools of man. Sharp stones were the first knives, then sharpened wood; early knives were made of flint. An evolution in forging knives occurred with the discovery of metal. Forging means re-shaping metal. To forge a knife, you have to create a sharp edge.

Things You'll Need

• Tang
• Anvil
• Sledge
• Furnace
• Metal

Instructions

1. Make a fire that is contained and can create enough heat to melt metal. Temperatures in this furnace can vary.

2. Get an anvil and place it next to the furnace. You want to pound the red hot metal quickly to shape it--you don't want it to cool down at all before you pound.

3. Make a clay mold of the knife shape you want to make. You can pour the hot metal into the mold. This requires less pounding on the anvil.

4. Create a rough shape that has been in the furnace three times to keep the metal soft. Let the forged blade cool the last time in the fire over night. This makes filing and sharpening easier.

5. Stop the blade of the forged knife approximately two inches from the butt--this leaves room for the tang or handle.

6. Purchase a 3 lb. sledge to tap the forged metal on the anvil in order to get the shape you desire. The weight of the sledge will depend on your size and strength.

Tips & Warnings

• Tap metal that is red hot only--be careful of sparks flying when you tap.

• Tap the metal on both sides--this makes it uniform.

• Don't let the red hot metal mushroom or fold over--it will cause weak spots in the blade.