Top 10: Knifemaking

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Top 10: Knifemaking

Knives are a major “gateway drug” for many a young maker. They were for me, certainly. One of the first things I ever remember being proud of making was a cocobolo replacement handle (mounted with homemade “mosaic” pins) to repair my mother’s favorite paring knife. (Coincidentally, both skills are covered in this round-up.)

Mom put that knife back in the kitchen drawer, but within a year my father gave up using it because, as he said, “I was tired of getting the lecture about being careful every time I picked it up.” Eventually she moved it out of the kitchen altogether, and put it with her jewels. Maybe I’ll post a picture of it someday.

#10

Make a knife from an old saw blade


#9

knifeSheaths.jpg

Make your own knife and tool sheaths


#8

How-To: Mount a knife blade in an antler without glue


#7

How-To: Full Tang Cord Handle Wrap


#6

How-To: Simple Electro-Etching for Knife Blades


#5

RRknife004a (Custom).jpg

Tai Goo’s railroad spike knives


#4

mosaic_pins.jpg

How-To: Make Decorative “Mosaic” pins


#3

Make: Projects — $30 Micro Forge


#2

Make: Projects — Technique: Repair an Old Pocket Knife


#1

Make: Projects — Crooked Knife


Did I miss a good one? Let me know, below!

7 thoughts on “Top 10: Knifemaking

  1. Shane Amerman says:

    This is a cool post, I can’t wait to check them all out. 
    This brings a question, I’ll put it on the forums too. Does anyone have the kit instructions for the old (1970s-1980s) automatic/switchblade OTF knife kits from back in the day? I got a hold of one of the kits but no instructions, just parts in a bag.
    Thanks
    Shane

  2. Shane Amerman says:

    This is a cool post, I can’t wait to check them all out. 
    This brings a question, I’ll put it on the forums too. Does anyone have the kit instructions for the old (1970s-1980s) automatic/switchblade OTF knife kits from back in the day? I got a hold of one of the kits but no instructions, just parts in a bag.
    Thanks
    Shane

  3. Shane Amerman says:

    This is a cool post, I can’t wait to check them all out. 
    This brings a question, I’ll put it on the forums too. Does anyone have the kit instructions for the old (1970s-1980s) automatic/switchblade OTF knife kits from back in the day? I got a hold of one of the kits but no instructions, just parts in a bag.
    Thanks
    Shane

  4. Shane Amerman says:

    This is a cool post, I can’t wait to check them all out. 
    This brings a question, I’ll put it on the forums too. Does anyone have the kit instructions for the old (1970s-1980s) automatic/switchblade OTF knife kits from back in the day? I got a hold of one of the kits but no instructions, just parts in a bag.
    Thanks
    Shane

  5. food dehydrator says:

    Thanks for finally talking about >Top 10: Knifemaking | MAKE <Liked it!

  6. Steve - Folding Knife HQ says:

    A superb post, really enjoyed #4 and #3 the budget micro forge and the decorative pins. Very innovative. I’m gonna have to dig out some spare cash to buy a drill to make the holes in the firebrick haha – I can already see the frown of disapproval on my wifes face.

  7. Dixie Valdez says:

    Really wonderful post I must say.Some more custom knife making supplies…
    http://www.atlantacutlery.com/c-90-knife-making-supplies.aspx

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I am descended from 5,000 generations of tool-using primates. Also, I went to college and stuff. I am a long-time contributor to MAKE magazine and makezine.com. My work has also appeared in ReadyMade, c't – Magazin für Computertechnik, and The Wall Street Journal.

View more articles by Sean Michael Ragan

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