How to Make Knife Kits

Knife kits provide amateur knifemakers with quality materials while eliminating the need for much of the smithing, grinding and cutting required to make the initial knife blank. They allow professional knifemakers to make large production runs in a shorter time, which can sometimes be vital if a particular knife is more popular than expected.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Blade blanks
• Handle slabs or rods
• Pin stock
• Bolsters and guards
• Solder
• Epoxy
• Electrical tape
• Parachute cord or leather strips
• Wood, antler or bone
• Sandpaper or belts
• Polishing compound
• Boxes
• Printer
• Price stickers
• Mailing labels

1. Decide what skill level will be needed to assemble your kit. According to Knife Making supplies.net, "Your choice of knife making kit should take into consideration both your confidence in your skills and the knife you want to own." Survey your potential customers about what type knife they are most likely to buy, including blade and tang style, handle type, and which materials will create the most versatile knife.

2. Gather all the materials: blade blanks, handle slabs or rods, pin stock, bolsters and guards, solder, epoxy, electrical tape, parachute cord, leather strips, sandpaper or sanding belts, polishing compounds, and wood, antler or bone pieces, including enough for one more knife kit than you think you will need.

3. Use a stock saw or band saw to cut materials to correct lengths. Sort all pieces into kits. Each kit should have a knife blank; wood, antler or bone pieces for the handle; epoxy, solder and electrical tape; parachute cord or leather strips for the handle wrap, sanding and polishing materials and an instruction sheet or booklet.

4. Assemble the extra kit. Write down each step needed to assemble the knife in clear, plain language. This will be your instruction sheet or booklet.

5. Copy and print enough instruction sheets or booklets for each kit. Add filler to the boxes to prevent shifting of the contents during shipping. Seal each box and apply a price sticker or mailing label, depending whether you are packing kits for sale or as gifts.

Tips & Warnings

• According to 20-year veteran industrial and artisan blacksmith and bladesmith Gypsy Wilburn, "Before you make knife kits to sell or give to friends, you should be experienced at assembling various types of knives or be an actual bladesmith. If you are not familiar with the product, you will not be able to create a fun, successful knifemaking experience for your customers."

References

• Gypsy Wilburn; artisan and industrial blacksmith, knife and sword maker; Carrollton, Ohio
• Knife Making Supplies.net