Knife making course

[Rich B]

I can’t remember who asked when I mentioned it (Dinny?) but I’ve just done a knife making course at https://www.clarkeknives.co.uk/knives/ down in Swindon. Absolutely brilliant couple of days - I did it one on one for two days, but I reckon the group sessions would be good too (up to 4 people per instructor) and the one day course too (no handle/sheath).

Day one:

Forging the blade - basically lots of fun heating up metal and hammering it into the right place. I was a bit shit at this bit, my hammering was pretty wayward and I could never remember which side was which but it still came out ok. Some of the dodgy hammer marks still show in the end result.





Then it was onto the grinders where thankfully I was much better. Shaping and cleaning the handle and blade, heat treating it then cleaning it up again. By the end of day one the blade was mostly finished.





Day two:

The main task was attaching handles to the blades - which was two oak scales with metal pins through. Again, a few mistakes early on meant that the end result had a few break seats around the pins, but I was there to learn - so cock ups are good reminders to do it right next time!



Once the handles were on and shaped (more grinding for me to look good again!) it was leather sheaths. Glueing, sewing and dying the leather to shape.





End result was good, the experience was brilliant. The guy doing the course was a superb teacher, didn’t waste any time with H&S and just let me get on with it when I wanted and was on hand when needed.

[Simon]

That's great! Would love to do something like that. Half my time on YouTube is spent watching restoration videos.

The sheath looks cool - did you stitch it with a machine?

[NotoriousREV]

That looks great. Brilliant end result, too!

[Rich B]

I’d definitely recommend it - I’m going to watch a good few episodes of forged in fire tonight!

The sheath is all hand done - folded and glued, the edges ground down even, then holes punched all round with special pliers before stitching it with two needles and waxed cord. Then it’s all dyed and polished.

It was nice doing the multiple processes - forging, grinding, wood handles and the leather sheath. Though you could also do stock removal for stainless steel if you didn’t want to do the forging bit.

[McSwede]

Excellent. What a great way to spend a couple of days!

Just watching Forged In Fire now. Sounds shit but it's very enjoyable.

[Broccers]

Very good

[V8Granite]

I’d definitely recommend it - I’m going to watch a good few episodes of forged in fire tonight!

The sheath is all hand done - folded and glued, the edges ground down even, then holes punched all round with special pliers before stitching it with two needles and waxed cord. Then it’s all dyed and polished.

It was nice doing the multiple processes - forging, grinding, wood handles and the leather sheath. Though you could also do stock removal for stainless steel if you didn’t want to do the forging bit.

That sounds like great fun, I’ve officially sent it to the birthday present list.

There was an incredible show on YouTube about making a samurai sword, they had a guy awake for days getting the right temp at the right time and other such things.

Nice end result, make sure to cut all meat with it at parties B)

Dave!

[mik]

That looks epic

Since my recent knife purchase i’ve fallen slightly into the rabbit hole and bought both sharpening whetstones and a leather strop plus rouge.

My knifes be sharp.

[Mito Man]

Nice. I’ve been tempted a few times to buy a forge and anvil as it seems like a fun cheap hobby

[nuttinnew]

but imagine having an itchy stabbing hand and a knife made by that self same hand

[dinny_g]

Yeah it was me...

That looks awesome - fantastic knife at the end too.

[Rich B]

but imagine having an itchy stabbing hand and a knife made by that self same hand

I didn’t have any concerns about all the knives around until a chap came in to collect a massive machete that the tutor had refurbished for him. It once belonged to the guys dad and was apparently in a sorry state.

He got it back shining with a razor sharp edge and stood there brandishing it looking like a slightly crazed African drug lord or something! Apparently he was a lawyer!

[GG.]

but imagine having an itchy stabbing hand and a knife made by that self same hand

I didn’t have any concerns about all the knives around until a chap came in to collect a massive machete that the tutor had refurbished for him. It once belonged to the guys dad and was apparently in a sorry state.

He got it back shining with a razor sharp edge and stood there brandishing it looking like a slightly crazed African drug lord or something! Apparently he was a lawyer!

Best not take the mickey, I've heard Jobson takes no prisoners with that machete

[nuttinnew]

Lawyers, African drug lords, both want the same things just go different ways about getting them, but when the lords go to court you see the worst incarnation of all; the African drug lawyer

[KiwiDave]

I'd be keen as fuck to do this if I were over there. I spent a good few years in my early apprenticeship working with forges and grinding, machine shops etc. My recent(is) love of Japanese knives is rekindling the urge to start making my own - alas no courses here. You guys come across anything useful on Youtube or similar?

[mik]

Loads of vids on ebay. Search for "damascus steel knife" for example.

[Rich B]

I wouldn’t be bothering with Damascus or anything too flash until I could confidently make (and have all the tools to make) a decent knife from bar stock. Forge welding and folding Damascus is way more involved and looks like hard work without decent equipment.

Tbh - If I ever wanted to do it again as a hobby, I’d probably start with a decent belt sander and make knives starting with stock removal first - then move onto forging if I still liked that.

[IanF]

That looks cool as fuck Rich!

Did he give you recommendations on maintaining it aswell?

[Rich B]

That looks cool as fuck Rich!

Did he give you recommendations on maintaining it aswell?

He mentioned that he would day one, then I think we finished quicker than expected on day two that it probably upset the normal schedule and we never talked about it beyond using teak oil on the handle. I’ll have to send him a message to see what he recommends - I expect I’ll just use some olive oil on it.

[Jimmy Choo]

That looks fun. I'm doing a series of crafting courses over the beginning of this year. So far I've done fleece to felt (meh), skin to leather (loved it but I'll probably just buy the leather rather than skin and joint deer), basket making (surprisingly enjoyable and would do it again) and this weekend it's green woodworking. Still to go is clay to pots, blacksmithing and glassmaking.