Baby Bear Knife for next to nothing!

How to make a Baby Bear knife for almost nothing! I saw this style blade on the web for over $100. So I decided to see if I could make one in my basement shop. I had all the materials lying around. And my tools were ready to go. So lets go and git- er- done!

Step 1 Trace out your pattern onto metal

First, trace out your pattern onto metal of your choice.

Comments

[triumphman]

I just started the "Grizzly Bear" knife from an old piece of leaf spring I found! Its really big and bad! Here is a picture of my progress so far!

[triumphman]

I just started to cut out the basic shape for a bigger knife, I am calling it the "Grizzly Bear" ! Its 1/4" thick, 11 ounces right now, leaf spring steel, rugged and heavy! I'm just having a little trouble with the center hole, the steel is really hard, I have tried anealing, but it did not help! I finally got a small hole by using a masonry drill bit. Most of my drills just squeal and smoke. Oil did not help. The center hole needs to be an inch or so. Any ideas?

[Square-Circles]

I can imagine this as an assassination weapon... Very good work in other words!

[triumphman]

Only for self defense! Survival and chores are the ranch. Thank you.

[triumphman]

I recently got five big steel files ffrom a second hand shop for $5.00! I am making a big Tanto style bladed knife from one. Maybe my next 'ible! Fun! Love my workshop time!

[triumphman]

I am currently experimenting with making my own handles from micarta. There are a couple of 'ibles that show how. It smells for a long while. Sort of like plastic auto body work. Hope it disipates or I am going back to wood and deer antler!

[black hole]

Where did you get that bit?

[triumphman]

The big one, I don't recall. I go to yard sales, flea markets, on a regular basis. So I can not remember . Good luck finding one.

[jackowens]

Where can I find brass pins? And do you have to glue it in or something?

[triumphman]

I got 3/16 " brass rods @ one of the box stores, Lowees, Homey Depot, or the other place I go, Chinese Tractor Supply! One of them should have it! Use a matching 3/16" drill bit , no glue is needed! Mine are tight, once you peen (round) over the ends on both sides. Enjoy, be safe. Triumphman

[omalachowski]

This is very cool, but isn't it a little disingenuous to call this a project 'for next to nothing' and then use 2 grand worth of tools to make it? Is there somewhere I don't know where I can get an angle grinder, belt sander, drill press, band saw, bench grinder and all the rest for next to nothing?

No offense intended, but renting the use of these tools for long enough to make that knife would probably cost at least the $100 you're trying to save.

Unless I can come over and use your stuff, in which case we're cool.
-Olaf

[Deathcapt]

A drill and a file is all you 'really' need to accomplish this. Of course, you're going to be doing a LOT of filing

[Basement_Craftsman]

It seems to me like u would be paying a lot for your tools. I have an angle grinder that was 20 bucks. A drill press at my local harbor freight tools is 70 bucks a and the bench grinder i have was just over 50. Belt sander 50 and band saw is 130. I don't mean to sound offensive i just want to help u out. So if you happen to be starting from scratch with no tools u can have all the power tools for the knife making process for less than 350 dollars. So harbor freight tools is what i would recommend for you. Most of those tools you listed aren't even truly needed.

[tensegrity]

It isn't much different than not mentioning the cost of a sewing machine in sewing projects.

[omalachowski]

You are all right. I suppose the cost of tools shouldn't be a factor. I had a craw up my butt, apparently. I will try not to post when in a snarky mood.

I would like to see the hand-tool version of this instructable, Madrigorne. Please post that if you do it.

[tensegrity]

My inner grammar fascist compels me to change that to "different from."

[bruce.desertrat]

The key is to build up that toolkit over time.

Cheap chinese angle grinders can be had for $10, better made ones for not a lot more. I had a $9.99 ace hardware special for several years, then saw a much nicer model on the closeout table for $19 at Lowes, because it was missing the flat nut that holds on the wheel...which the one from my cheap chinese one fit.

My drill press is a $49 on sale benchtop model from Harbor Freight, with 20% off coupon bringing it down to $40.

Bench grinder is a monster old 8" thing I got for $25 with some haggling at the swap meet over 15 years ago. Needed new wheels and some grease on the axles. Had to come up with a rest for it, which I made from some scrap angle iron and some pipe.

I don't have the band sander, but again, a trip to Harbor Freight or a used tool store, or some time scrounging yard sales will get you one cheap.

Also, you can build this thing with nothing more than hand tools, it just takes time and elbow grease. A coping saw with some metal cutting blades, a hand drill and some files of various shapes and sizes are all you need.

[Madrigorne]

I am going to make this but instead of the power tools I will be using my hacksaw, my drill, and my dremel.

[triumphman]

You will burn out your dremel trying to make this baby! I use mine so much that I have taken it apart to fix it many times. You would not believe what connects the motor to the chuck.! It is a piece of plastic tubing. Mine burned out recently. So I repalced it with the same size piece of aquarium air hose. Cut it to the same length and slide it on like the broken piece. Its been working great for over a year now! Who new ? I love fixing stuff! Saves me $$$!

[charlesian2000]

The same job "could" be done with cheaper tools, it would just take a bit longer.

Cutting out the profile could be done with a hacksaw, the finger hole, could be made with a series of drilled holes, then cut out with a sharp needle file.

The knife bevel could be done with a hand file, the grip material can also be shaped with a file.

Then it's a matter of heat treating the blade. If it's a high carbon steel, standard hardening and tempering with oil. If it's stainless then you have to do a sub-zero quench, or send it to a professional to harden the stainless blade for you.

Expensive tools aren't necessary to make a good knife, expensive tools just make it faster and easier to do.

[aristide202]

that's right , i absolutely agree. Anyway there are different grades in hand tools too. Prefer the best hand tools you can afford .Tungsten or manganese hacksaw blades cut faster than regular carbon steel blades. A diamond titanium coated file may give easier satisfactions in hand working and so on and not always the problem is related to price.

[curious youth]

LOVE IT ! have i commented yet ? i dont know ? lol but your third is my favorite. even though it isnt finished. i think it looks great already.

[triumphman]

Please vote for my 'ible. I neeed that shop bot thingy!

[triumphman]

I just found a nice piece of curly (wavy) maple in my woodpile. When you tilt it towards the light the grain catches the light. Very nice. I cut two pieces out for the grip handles on my next little baby bear knife! Maybe a gift for my son, ? Will post a picture when I am done.

[owlart101]

I really like the wood(?) that you are using. What kind is it? I am also a knifemaker and am in the process of making a bowie.

[black hole]

Could be micarta.

[owlart101]

Cant you get micarta in brown and grey-ish? Then stain it? I have never worked with it. But I heard that you can polish it and it will look very much like ivory.

[black hole]

Don't know about staining it, but yes, you can get it in many colors.
Here's an 'ible on making it.
At KnifeKits.com

[owlart101]

Did you use scales?

[Rteen]

How sharp do you think this is?

[mjursic]

My own attempt. What took the longest was getting the scabs just right. Used the middle of an old 12" circular saw blade. Thanks, triumphman. Great idea.

[triumphman]

Very nice, you did great, but is the finger hole big enough for your trigger finger? I like the wood grips too! Did you make a sheath for it too. I up-graded my sheath. It was to loose and I kept dropping the knife out of it. I put a copper rivet and copper washer just to the lower side when the handle gets pointy. It stays put now! Thanks for sharing your great little knife!

[Cokehubby]

I'm getting ready to make this one out of a lawn mower blade. Looks like a very use full little knife. Thanks for the great instructions.

[13thvulture]

its a neat looking knife, but what sort of things is it used for?

[mjursic]

Mine is almost done. It is a compact knife that can be used for anything. It just looks cool. Also, you can't really see it, but when you hold it, it fits into the hand really well.

[criggie]

I agree - why this shape?

It's not really a skinning knife, and push knives are classed as weapons in many locations.

[black hole]

It's like a natural claw when in this shape, an extension of the body

[aristide202]

It reminds me some sort of a push dagger

[MexicanPorkSword]

Wow, you really made a great instructable here! May i recommend that you harden your steel for future projects by heating the steel to a red hot temperature, until it loses it's magnetism, and then dipping it in oil repeatedly. This infuses the steel with carbon, making it much harder and sharper. You would then proceed to putting it in the oven at 400 degrees fahrenheit for one hour to relieve stress on the blade, making it much less brittle. You really have it going and I truly enjoyed your guide. Also, you mentioned you had seen this kind of blade online? Would you mind telling me where I could find it or what it is called? -Thank you,
Mexican

[mjursic]

Hey Mexican, it's called the Baby bear knife. Here's an example of where you can find it.
http://www.gpknives.com/alanfoltscustombabybearorangeg10.html

Have fun, I'm just going out to my garage right now to start one out of an old circular saw blade.