Finished product first!

I got bored the other day and realized the knife I used to carry was stolen a few months ago and I wanted a new carry knife. So I decided to make one.

Came up with the display block after the fact.

I think it turned out pretty well.

So I started by drawing an incredibly rough design on an old miter saw blade.

Then I cut it out with an angle grinder. It took me a whole because if I got it to hot I would have to re heat treat it and I do not have anything other than a torch to do that with, and that ain't fun.

At this point I've refined the outline ever so slightly and started to smooth the flats of the blade.

I decided to add a hole that I could grip, and partly just for aesthetics I've also started the profile of the cutting edge.

I got a little fancy and did some file work on the spine and the whole of the handle.

Kinda crappy vine pattern but it was my first attempt so I'm not horribly upset.

I wanted to do a stonewash finish on this blade so I soaked it in vinegar for six or so hours.

When I got it out it was super dull and the color of charcoal.

Next step here we come!

I put it in a container with a bunch of rocks and oil, duct taped it shut, taped an old towel around it and threw it in the dryer with no heat to tumble for an hour. This nice stonewash patina was the result.

I used some dark walnut I had for the handle scales, forgot to take pictures of the process of making and fitting them. The pins are brass and I pounded them flat to hold the scales on.

The pattern is looking pretty good here.

This is sharpened, buffed, burnished and sharpened. I'm loving it.

It fits great in my hand and it sharp enough to shave with. I now have a bald spot on my arm and my leg to prove it.

The pattern doesn't look half bad really.

Soon I'm going to make a sheath to go along with it so I can carry it without fear of slicing myself open.