Over the last few years I've gotten into some hobby wood working with coasters/cutting boards etc. for gifts and now I'm thinking about venturing into putting together knives to go with the cutting boards. I would be buying the blank blades and just putting a matching wooden handle on them.

I know we have some hobbyists and professionals on here just wanted to see if anyone had tips or places to look to buy the blanks etc.

Interested in this as well. Following. Also a good sharpener.

Jantz Supply

Texas Knifemakers Supply

Most people who "make knives" do so from raw untreated metal and heat treat after grinding to shape. I guess there are some people who buy pre-made blanks and just do the handle part...but that's really just knife assembly IMO. To each their own though. Maybe try Woodcraft or Rockler for pre-made blanks?

For raw metal, try https://newjerseysteelbaron.com/

Also, if anyone is in the market for a heat treat kiln (Evenheat brand) let me know....have one I need to sell. Not cheap. My handle at gmail.

javajaws said:

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Most people who "make knives" do so from raw untreated metal and heat treat after grinding to shape. I guess there are some people who buy pre-made blanks and just do the handle part...but that's really just knife assembly IMO. To each their own though. Maybe try Woodcraft or Rockler for pre-made blanks?

For raw metal, try https://newjerseysteelbaron.com/

Also, if anyone is in the market for a heat treat kiln (Evenheat brand) let me know....have one I need to sell. Not cheap. My handle at gmail.

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+1 on this. Knife making is making the blade and doing everything else.

This is still a good idea and there are tons of sources for blanks.

In addition to above sources, USA Knifemaker. Some of those also sell on Amazon.

Texas Knifemakers is in Houston (Beltway 8 just North of I10 on the west side). So you can see them in person if you want and also shop some handle materials, etc.

Lots of ability to do differernt things on the handles from materials, to mosiac pins, liners, etc to really make it a personal gift.

On sharpeners, I really like the Edge Pro Apex system. It's a similar to a scaled up Lanksy so its much faster but gives great results. Lots of knockoff versions around now too.

Yes, just looking to assemble right now. I would buy knife blanks and add my own wooden handles. Not ready to jump into the full metal works arena just yet.

Following this. One of my favorite things is to watch knife makers work on YouTube. Can't wait to get a space where I can set up a small shop to do this as well.

Admiral Steel is where I buy my raw material from now. (very competitive prices) It used to be Sheffield in Florida, before they went out of business.

I would love to have an Evenheat Oven, but now that I've gotten away from most of my stainless steel and make the majority of my knives with 1095, I can't justify the cost, when I have a good forge to treat high carbon.

I'd be negligent if I didn't mention Maker Material Supply. Aggie owned.

He was generous enough to send my boys a huge box of goodies for their projects.

Who cares whether the op "assembles" or "makes" a knife?? Would be like saying you can't cook a good hamburger unless
you raised the calf and ground your own meat. Wgas really?

I've bought some blanks from Texas Knife Supply and liked them pretty well. Eventually, I'd like to get into forging my own blades, but that is pretty costly.

Agree, nothing wrong with customizing your own knife from the available blades out there. You can take the same blade, and create unique knives with different pins, scales, bolsters, etc,.

I prefer to use mesquite, maple and iron wood for the knife scales. Lots of good hardwoods available. I occasionally will stop by woodcraft and by blocks to turn into scales. Cheaper than buying pairs from the knife supply stores.

BKS_Aggie08 said:

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Who cares whether the op "assembles" or "makes" a knife?? Would be like saying you can't cook a good hamburger unless
you raised the calf and ground your own meat. Wgas really?

I've bought some blanks from Texas Knife Supply and liked them pretty well. Eventually, I'd like to get into forging my own blades, but that is pretty costly.

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Really a bad comparison.

A more appropriate comparison would be cooking a good burger and calling yourself a rancher.

BKS_Aggie08 said:

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Who cares whether the op "assembles" or "makes" a knife?? Would be like saying you can't cook a good hamburger unless
you raised the calf and ground your own meat. Wgas really?

I've bought some blanks from Texas Knife Supply and liked them pretty well. Eventually, I'd like to get into forging my own blades, but that is pretty costly.

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Calm down there Hoss. I never said I cared so stop putting words in my mouth.

What about all the gun assemblers on here? Someone call them out!!!

Jantz will be a one stop shop for the hobbyist. you can get your glue, pins, g10 for liner, files, drill bit (go carbide), as well as blanks ready for handles. They also have steel ready to forge or shape if you are going that route.

if you get stainless that needs to be hardened, you will need a kiln or send it off to get it hardened. As well it will not really be forgeable for the average bladesmith.

if you are going to do damascus, most likely you will have to at least touch up sand marks from putting on the handle. you use ferric chloride for that. And what ever you do stay away from cheap paki Damascus, it is made for crap steel and will never last. if the price of Damascus seems like an unbelievable deal it probably is.

when it comes to the handle material i strongly suggest getting stabilized material. there are places that will stabilize your wood for you. this is a process of using a vacuum and a resin called 'cactus juice" to soak into the wood. it sand so much better, but most importantly it does not swell on you when it gets wet from washing. I will only use mesquite unstablized now a days.

if you are going to do stock removal it can be done with files, but have fun with that. Alec steel has some videos on his channel that he makes a knife from start to finish with just handle tools. a grind is the biggest game changer in the knife shop. Most use a 2x72 but a harbor freight 1x24 can work and combat abrasives has quality belt in that size. Also some knife maker leave scratch marks in the blade, i personally take that extra step and hand sand every thing to at least up to 800 grit. (just my preference)

also if you are going to salvage steel for knives know that the least expensive part of the knife is the steel. and you mystery steel does funny stuff. do you self a favor and start with a good quality steel (80crv2 is my go to). you can buy a piece for stock from jantz that will make 2-3 knives for $18. Nothing is worse than spending the time and money on $5-$12 a piece for belts, $30-$45 for handle material, nice pins and had everything scratch free and the tip breaks off because you made it from a case hardened file that never was going to be hardenable. i know lots of people start with that salvaged of material hell i did as well, But had i know what i do now some of my first knives would still be in use. I do under stand that some steel will work and some steel might have some nostalgia to it. just giving some pointers.

Awesome thread! Thanks!

I've bought a lot of handle material from here:

https://arizonaironwood.com/t/SPECIES

Pretty terrible to navigate through it all but there are a lot of options in stabilized woods and you get good picture with accurate dimensions. I will often try to find the wider scales because I can squeeze two handles out of the right set, doesn't always work out but worth thinking about especially for smaller blades.

I started making knife handles this year and so far have completed two knives. I find it extremely satisfying and a ton of fun. For the wood I get it from land I own or from a buddy of mine who also has a ranch. I find some dead wood and look for nice grain patterns, cut it to size and then shape it to the tang.

My first knife was from a piece of mesquite and I just left the wood natural. I coated it with some butcher block oil and then finished it with paste wax. I have used it to field dress a hog so far and it worked great.

My next project is with a piece of bois d'arc I got from my place in Red River county.

Bois d'arc makes some beautiful handles

Thank you for showing me those photos, great looking handles. Can you tell me how you finish your handles? They look like they have a shine and I was curious. And if you have recommendations on different methods that you like.

Thanks!

I use tung oil. I steel wool between layers. Then I can buff if I want to.

I use linseed oil. The Bois d'arc starts out mustard yellow but will turn a golden brown after exposure to uv light. I've enjoyed using it for my handles so far.

This thread made me think of Williams Knife Co. out of SC. Dude claims to be a custom knife maker, but you used to be able to find the blanks of his knifes on Jantz Supply. His "handcrafted knifes" were just being handled by him. His handles are very nice but he came across as super slimy with the way he marketed his work and his prices were sky high. Seems to have worked for him though.

ETA…thumbs down for WIlliams Knifes, not this thread or handling blanks

A few of us drove down to Hope for a day and built a kit knife here. It was a good time and they have just about everything from forges, to saws and sanders. There are likely a few of these around Texas as well, but you all are always welcome to head north on I-30.

https://www.uaht.edu/bladesmithing/

There are several very, very good knife makers on Texasbowhunter.com. One of them, "Chopsknives" has actually taught some knife making classes that several commented were very good. Might check that out. One or two have actually been on Forged in Fire.

I started with kit knives fro TX Knife maker. Grind some of my own blades. Use some other blades for quick turn around. It is a hobby and I get to work with my hands .

Just know you are going to be itching to be in the forge on a cold day.