Homemade knives and sheaths by rmccue
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I have recently begun making knives in my spare time. I will one day make an instructable but I wanted to post these for now. The blades in these knives are crafted from old files and saw blades and the handles are made either from deer antlers or wood. The sheaths are made from leather.
triumphman says: Apr 2, 2012. 2:03 PM
I have been using deer antler for some time on my knives now! I have a tip I discovered about antler. I was also making a Native American Peace Pipe from Birch and antler. If you take a small propane torch and carefully heat the antler by waving the flame over an area that you want to darken, it will turn golden brown. It is a trail and error thing. Too much and it will burn, too little and it will turn lightly brown. Try it and see. My knives turn out great! If I have a white area that needs to be darker! Have fun, as ever, Triumphman 4-2-12
triumphman says: Feb 10, 2012. 10:32 AM
Very rugged, you have the talent, now do an instructable! See my instructables "knives" with antler handles and more! Triumphman.
steampirate says: Feb 13, 2010. 8:10 PM
How do you make the leather keep it's shape? Is there a way to harden soft leather?
rmccue (author) says: Dec 30, 2010. 7:18 PM
i soak it and keep it pressed tight. let it air dry. i tried drying it with a hair dryer and it made it brittle and break
henster22 says: Mar 20, 2011. 12:36 PM
Is that one the the pic of the cracked sheath?

(also i totalt disagree with the complantes made by other people below!!!)
amazing!!!
:2)
bombmaker2 says: Jun 12, 2010. 6:00 PM
Dip into melted parafin for 20 seconds.
hear the reaper says: Feb 27, 2010. 4:22 AM
hi this may be a silly idea but have you thought about adding plyable ribs to the leather intrnally or threading them into the matrial ... i know its not a leather hardening technique but if u ribbed em it would give it more of a rigid structure
hope it helps
jack.


Nelm8u says: May 13, 2008. 4:06 PM
What is the point of showing them if you dont show how to do it
henster22 says: Mar 20, 2011. 12:33 PM
I is a slid show!!!

It says:
Share one or more photos of a project, recipe, or whatever you've made, quickly and easily.
rmccue (author) says: May 15, 2008. 10:46 PM
I am sorry that there are disappointed people out there because there are no instructions. This is just a slide show it does not count as an Instructable, its a slide show. All of these knives were made before I new how to make an instructable so there were no pictures taken to document the procedures, which I have stated above in my description. I would like to think that people may just see the pictures I do have and become inspired to try it anyways. All of the above knives I made with no previous knowledge or experience and with no instructions. Just experimenting may wind up making you happy.
henster22 says: Mar 20, 2011. 12:32 PM
I agree because you have got me into knife making!!!
brandon.horrell says: Mar 2, 2011. 5:59 PM
Wow those deer antler ones are dece!!
deeboman says: Feb 24, 2011. 5:16 PM
The craftsmanship is incredible, 4 thumbs up!!!
Thaddeuss says: Feb 22, 2011. 2:49 PM
and the sheth is ok
Thaddeuss says: Feb 22, 2011. 2:49 PM
i love the first knife
LoneWolf says: Jun 10, 2010. 7:21 AM
Nice sheaths.
thoraxe says: Mar 7, 2008. 6:12 PM
I dont think this is really an "instructable" because it just shows a slideshow. Nice Job! (not) *throws Michael Jackson's fake nose at you because its fake, like your instructable*
Mig Welder says: Nov 10, 2009. 9:22 AM
Wow I think this is the 3rd time I've seen this. Its not supposed to be an instructable instead of saying "How to make homemade knives and sheaths" it says: homemade knives and sheaths. you obviously have never made an 'ible if you didn't know about the slideshow option
mazeka.14 says: Dec 8, 2008. 9:28 AM
He said it not an ible, read the rest of the comments!!!
denkbert says: Mar 13, 2008. 3:13 PM
I so totally don't see why this counts as an Instructable ... Sure, the knifes look pretty well made and really nice, got to give the maker credit there, but without a guide, it's basically just showing off.
Mig Welder says: Nov 10, 2009. 9:22 AM
Wow I think this is the 3rd time I've seen this. Its not supposed to be an instructable instead of saying "How to make homemade knives and sheaths" it says: homemade knives and sheaths. you obviously have never made an 'ible if you didn't know about the slideshow option
mazeka.14 says: Dec 8, 2008. 9:27 AM
it not a ,ible hes said that twice now
Black Cat says: Sep 21, 2008. 6:23 AM
nice knives mate but this kinda fails as an instructable coz there r no instructions.
Mig Welder says: Nov 10, 2009. 9:22 AM
Wow I think this is the 3rd time I've seen this. Its not supposed to be an instructable instead of saying "How to make homemade knives and sheaths" it says: homemade knives and sheaths. you obviously have never made an 'ible if you didn't know about the slideshow option
pumpkinman says: May 2, 2009. 5:51 AM
how do you forge the blades?
thewoodcarver says: Jan 22, 2008. 1:18 AM
How are you mounting the blade in the antler ? I make small carving knives out of broken straight razors old joiner or plainer blades and use 2 pieces of wood with a groove routed on one side .I
rmccue (author) says: Feb 18, 2008. 5:41 PM
In the antler displayed here I used they concept you used with your wood. I cut the antler with the band saw, giving me 2 pieces, and removed bone from one side to accommodate the blade and glued the pieces back together. I have been experimenting with bone and have found that you can drill a series of holes that will accommodate the tang on the file and allow you to insert the tang along with glue into the antler.
mazeka.14 says: Dec 8, 2008. 9:28 AM
the knives are awesome;]
dannylee says: Jun 15, 2008. 2:45 AM
mate i think there are bril the anteler 1s are the best i think keep them coming :P
Tengu says: May 26, 2008. 9:24 PM
Did you do any kind of heat treating of the blades, or did you simply grind the files down to form the blades? The steel files are made of will hold an awesome edge, however they are very brittle (even more so if you grind the blades on a dry wheel) and that can make them a bit dangerous. Files have been made into knives since Spanish Colonial days that I know of, perhaps even longer that that. The knives I've made out of files were annealed first, then shaped (wet grinding or forged) and then heat treated appropriately to make them serviceable. It would be simple to do a primitive case-hardening on them, provided the blade is thick enough.
Fenris The bbw says: Mar 17, 2008. 11:15 PM
Well these are just groovy. I plan on making some kinves soon, I hope they turn out this nice.
animal0307 says: Mar 8, 2008. 10:05 PM
DUDE?!!?!?! is that a scissor blade in the antler???? because if it is you wasted it.....
jakezcop says: Mar 8, 2008. 3:45 PM
how do u make handles and mount them? plz tell!
Dorkfish92 says: Jan 24, 2008. 8:40 PM
very cool. I just made my first knife and gave it to my grandpa for christmas. Mine was a short stubbby blade.
Lftndbt says: Jan 22, 2008. 5:58 PM
Very nice indeed... Have you any bright finished blades..? as in polished.? I'd love to see one of those hit with some 1000 grit wet 'n' dry... They would come up a treat!! Fantastic job!! Two thumbs up! :)
canida says: Jan 22, 2008. 5:39 PM
Totally sweet!
Those look awesome. Just don't put them through the dishwasher!
Scupper says: Jan 22, 2008. 12:14 PM
(removed by author or community request)
canida says: Jan 22, 2008. 5:38 PM
And that would be... because it's a slideshow. Indeed.
ewilhelm says: Jan 22, 2008. 5:37 PM
LinuxH4x0r says: Jan 22, 2008. 5:23 PM
Wow! the antler one looks cool, but it seems like it would be hard to use with such a big handle
GorillazMiko says: Jan 22, 2008. 3:16 PM
Cool, but can you post an Instructable soon? These looks really awesome, and I would like to try to make one, nice job, they're cool.

Really cool.
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