Introduction: Handmade Knife and Leather Sheath
HI!
This is my second instructable. This time i'll show how I made a beatiful knife.
When i was a kid, I remember how my grandpa made a lot of knives. Even though they weren't visually attractive, they were razor sharp, and served good for a long time.
Some years later I started going to art school, to drawing and metalworking. I was making rings, bracelets, and many other things, but my dream was to make a knife. So I made my first knife, it was good for a twelve-year old, but now it seems quite bad.
Some time has passed since then, I'm not a professional, I know that some of my methods are wrong, but despite that, I have learned a lot.
Tools:
- angle grinder
- sandpaper
- files
- drill
- FeCl for etching
- wood burning tool
Materials:
- steel
- deer antler
- redwood
- leather
Step 1: Blade
The main problem was, that I dont have a forge, so I had to make the blade from a steel plate.
Unfortunately I didn't take pictures of starting materials, however I simply cut out the blade.
After that I started sharpening it.
Step 2: Blade Etching
Next thing I did, was blade etching.
First of all, I put duct tape on blade.
Then I started drawing the pattern and after that I cut it out. I drew latvian national tracery.
Then I covered the blade with nail polish, and took of the duct tape.
Then I put the blade into the iron chloride(FeCl3), and after taking it out, removed the nail polish.
Step 3: Putting All Together
First I made the piece that connects blade and hilt (don't know how it's called)
Then I drilled a hole in the hilt.
After that I put it all together.
Then, using knife, I started carving a deer on the hilt.
When that was done, I glued all together using epoxy glue.
Step 4: Sheath Making
I cut out the pattern, put it on leather and cut it out too.
Then I knocked out holes in the leather and put in studs.
Step 5: Leather Sheath
I liked the sheath, but knew that it needs something more, so I decided to burn in some kind of pattern.
I drew the pattern on the sheath, and started burning it using wood burning tool.
Step 6: Completion of the Knife
The last thing I had to do, was to add a piece of redwood at the end of hilt.
I sawed a piece of redwood, added some epoxy, and glued it to the knife.
When it was holding hard, I took off unnecessary wood using files and sandpaper
Currently, this knife is my favourite, overall I was making the knife for three or more months (I worked only at weekends).
I'm planning to make another knife this summer, so it'll be another instructable :)

Runner Up in the
Leatherworking Contest

Runner Up in the
Metal Contest

Second Prize in the
Great Outdoors Contest
65 Comments
8 years ago
Epic. I voted
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Thanks a lot!!
6 years ago
Olá, parabens pelo seu trabalho, e por mostar as etapas. Gostaria de saber quanto tempo voce deixou mergulhado no Cloreto Ferrico? Obrigado.
7 years ago
how did you cut the metal?
Reply 7 years ago
I used angle grinder :)
7 years ago
Nice job. I like that you've added decoration to each part of your knife, and worked out each step as you went along. Good instructable to follow.
Reply 7 years ago
Thank you!
8 years ago on Step 6
Very skillfully done. I just wondered why you didn't heat treat the blade.
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
As I already told, unfortunately I don't have a heat-treating oven or even a blowtorch, if I had one, I would have heat treated the blade
Reply 7 years ago
Your cookstove burner will get it super-hot. Then just quench it with ice water or better yet, oil.
7 years ago on Introduction
Where do you get your steel?
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
I buy it in local market, where all the metal parts, technical stuff and other similar things can be bought!
7 years ago on Introduction
Good tutorial. did you do anything to the antler to make it smooth or shiny? i have some brittle sheds that i can use, but id want to make it smooth and shiny white
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
Thanks! I simply sanded it with different grit sandpapers and polished it with a polishing compound!
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
What was that polishing compound?
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
Something very similar to this!
8 years ago
very impressive job dude. Actually, you did a downright wonderful job! looking forward to seeing more! I'm a metalsmith/jeweler as well, and have been yearning to make a knife. With every instructable I watch of yours I become more and more inspired. :)
Reply 8 years ago on Introduction
Thanks man!! Glad you find them useful :)
8 years ago on Step 6
Great looking knife, thanks for sharing your build with us. I really like the etching on the blade, it turned out well.
Reply 8 years ago on Step 6
Thanks!!