Blade making reference?

**Kerr the Walker** · 9th January 09, 09:31 AM

To those in the know: Is the info in this link a good reference, a total crock, or a bit of both?

I've been bitten by the bug of making my own sgian dubhs pretty badly and want to move from just carving the handle to being involved through the entire process. In an ideal world, I'd have a shop and a forge with all the necessary tools and equipment. However, I'm currently working on my apartment's 4'x12' balcony. The information in this link seemed to be just the thing I needed to get this whole blade thing going with the tools I already have. Too good to be true?

Thanks!

~Alex

**BEEDEE** · 9th January 09, 02:40 PM

I have a book called the $50 Knife Shop by Wayne Goddard, so this looks like it's doable.

Brian

**Howard Clark** · 9th January 09, 03:08 PM

That's a fine "almost no tools required" how-to. I give it a passing grade, no problem. There are faster or better ways to do all of it, but they require more tools.

**Kerr the Walker** · 9th January 09, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by Howard Clark

That's a fine "almost no tools required" how-to. I give it a passing grade, no problem. There are faster or better ways to do all of it, but they require more tools.

Until I have a shop that isn't a apartment balcony....passing will do just fine

**ChattanCat** · 9th January 09, 05:37 PM

I would go with Howard's recommendations.

**oxter** · 9th January 09, 09:51 PM

The same tutorial was recommended to me some years ago by one or more of the members of the knifemaker's forums on Bladeforums.com. I would strongly suggest poking around there; there's a wealth of information supplied by some of the best knifemakers in the business.

**Howard Clark** · 9th January 09, 10:09 PM

Yes, bladeforums is good. I like Don Fogg's web site and forum a little better, personally, but that is an issue of taste or style, or perhaps that we are friends.

I also recommend British Blades web site and forum as well.

I have not looked at them recently, but both the American Bladesmith Society, and The Knifemakers Guild have web sites up and should be able to provide some good info, or links to good info.

There is a wealth of stuff out there on the web and in print. Success making knives is mostly about persistence, though, to really tell the truth of it.