How to Carve a Wooden Knife

by Thelonelysandwitch

67K7130

Intro: How to Carve a Wooden Knife

In this instructable, I will be showing you how to carve a wooden knife out of door shims (the ones that are like 8-10 inch long). The knife will have a point but wont be able to cut anything more then thread, wood doesn't hold an edge very well. I am not responsible for anything dumb done with the knife.

(sorry for the bad pictures, my camera broke so I had to use my cell phone)

Thanks, and be sure to vote for me in the Craftsman Workshop of the Future Contest!

STEP 1: So Here Is What You Need

The things you need to make this knife:

A wooden shim for doors and windows,
A sharp knife, or a razor
A sanding block or sand paper
Something to wrap the handle in ((I used thread) Not shown)
A pen
A basic idea of what a knife looks like

Optional:
sander
glue (for handle wrap)
Stain

STEP 2: Draw the Outline

Now get an idea of the shape of the handle and the blade. My handle is around 3/4 of an inch across and not even 1/4 of an inch wide. My blade is a basic design of a curve. you can do what you want.

STEP 3: Start Carving

This is the fun part. Now take your soon to be knife and start shaving little by little until you carve out your shape. Leave me a comment if you have any questions. There is a way you can cheat, you can use a sander (which I couldn't find) or just cut the design which is harder(look at picture #2 for the cutting part).

STEP 4: Round and Sharpen

Now it gets tricky to explain. On the handle, gently carve the corner off to make it round and easy to hold like a real knife. Gently graze the handle corners with the razor to round the handle. To sharpen, angle the razor and gently shave the blade part to an angle. You can also sand the blade on an angle instead of carving.

STEP 5: Now Wrap and Finish

Now we are almost finished. Tie the end of the thread (or whatever you are using) to the back of the handle and wrap until the handle is all covered in thread. If you want, you can stain or paint it. Now you are finished. So go and have fun, but don't forget to vote for me and others!

31 Comments

dbodarev 12 years ago

THIS IS SO COOL! Would it be ok for me to use paracord as the "thread around the handle"?

StoryAddict 10 years ago

I was just thinking about how to make dull prop "throwing knives" for a cosplay - thanks! This not only looks easy, but economical since shims are so cheap!

DanYHKim 12 years ago

"A basic idea of what a knife looks like"
Luckily, you provided a handy photo.

punkhead58 12 years ago

Thug: Hey kid, gimme your wallet!

You: Back up, otherwise I will be forced to give you a moderately severe splinter with this wooden knife!

Thug: Oh god! Please don't hurt me! Here, take my wallet!

Great Wight Ninja 12 years ago

Not as ridiculous as you may think, but the thug would not feel particularly threatened.

explosivemaker 15 years ago

"what are you making?" "a knife" "you're making a knife with a knife?" "DO YOU KNOW A BETTER WAY??!!!" .....the office is awesome....

Thelonelysandwitch 15 years ago

scraping against a rock or sand paper, laser, burning, mind powers (if you have them), or water jets? And thanks

explosivemaker 15 years ago

....it was a joke....a quote from "The Office".....

teckner 13 years ago

True dat, my homedog gangster boi!

abf220 13 years ago

or u couled just make an indent down the whole blade of it and and a slip of metal then sharpen

daetol 15 years ago

i have made arrow heads out of ash and white oak, i found out a coating of hide glue on the edge makes it work better, but i guess you could try super glue, it would harden the would.

Thelonelysandwitch 15 years ago

I dont plan on using it as a knife, But it is a good idea. p.s. you spelled wood wrong

daetol 15 years ago

it might not work as a knife. but you could make a really cool looking letter opener!!!!!(sarcasm)

Shadow13! 13 years ago

When at a cookout with my youth group I was bored so I whittled a knife/letter opener.

absolute zero 15 years ago

you can make a working knife out of a stick, you just sharpen it like you would a real knife. I just carved a knife handle the glue holding my home-made blade in is drying. LET IT BE PROCLAIMED A WORKING KNIFE CAN BE MADE WITH A STICK!

Thelonelysandwitch 15 years ago

thats what I use it for, and a nice thing on my wall (I made 2)

Owlbear 14 years ago

fire hardening can make the wood take a sharper edge. the mezo-amareicans used wooden swords in combat with deadly effect.
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