The Cutting Edge

The official blog of Knife Depot

Making Your Own Knife Out of a File

There’s nothing like finding that perfect knife with the right blade shape, handle size and original look that fits your predilection.

This is one reason why custom knife makers tend to do great business selling knives around the world.

The Chicago Tribune recently published a profile of a knife maker who turned a hobby into a successful worldwide business. Amazingly, the knife maker made his first knife out of an old file.

While making knives from scratch can be a tedious process, making your own custom knife from an old file is not overly difficult.

In fact, several very informative how-to articles lay out the process very clearly. The best article on how to make your own knife out of a file is written by Christopher Cody at Woods Monkey.

The process is straightforward but requires some tools, such as a hack saw, bench grinder, scroll saw, belt sander and drill.

To give you a general idea on what’s required, here are some of the steps in the process.

1. Find an old steel file and anneal it

Once you’ve located a steel file, you need to anneal it. To do this heat it until it’s glowing yellow-orange either in a barbecue or fire pit and let it cool slowly. This helps soften the steel of the file.

2. Shape the file into a knife blank

After it’s cool, sand the file and cut out the knife shape with a hacksaw. Remember to also cut out an area for the handle.

3. Forge the knife

Forging the knife requires extreme heat during the hardening process. You heat the knife until its magnetic properties are completely gone and then cool it rapidly in a liquid.

4. Clean and temper the blade

Temper the blade with a torch by running the fire evenly along the blade. Be sure not to overheat it.

5. Attach a handle

You can get creative with the handle, but you want to make sure the handle is very secure by using an epoxy and preferably screws to keep it in place.

Making a knife this way is a very rewarding experience but requires extreme caution and concentration. For a more detailed step-by-step instruction, read this article.

41 Comments

  1. ​beautiful knife, I did one of a old saw blade is not so handsome but it is very practical https://www.patriotdirect.org/step-by-step-instructions-to-make-a-knife-from-an-old-saw-cutting-edge/

  2. Amazing well informative blog. many things to learn from here. i really love it. Thank you

  3. Thanks for sharing a step-by-step guide. making a knife for beginners requires different types of material to start and one of the important is steel.

  4. Thank you for sharing informative article

  5. How much should you expect to pay for an old file with good steel, made in USA.

    • Put a looking for on Facebook marketplace or something. Somebody will have an old file they’ll sell you for cheap or give you for free

  6. Hi I have the RTX 3060 Intel version of the 7i on order. I plan to use this with my Quest 2 link cable.

    I have two questions;
    1) Does this configuration come with a “MUX” switch (ability to turn off hybrid mode)?
    2) Does one of the USB-C ports (or USB-A for that matter) allow access directly to the dedicated graphics?
    Much appreciated!

  7. This is really too good about the making your knife thanks sharing this article

  8. Found this article very informative about making a knife. Hoping to find more in the future.

  9. Such a lovely idea about the making your own knife thanks sharing this article

  10. This article on making knives was very informative. I’m looking forward to reading more in the future.

  11. This is amazing information about the making your knife thanks sharing this article

  12. Amazing well informative blog. many things to learn from here. i really love it. Thank you for sharing this article.

  13. these are really important and helpful article to know about these things . thanks for sharing this amazing article.

  14. This article on making knives was very informative. I’m looking forward to reading more in the future.

  15. Thanks for sharing nice and amazing information’s!

  16. I read the blogs about Knifes here, really much appreciated and love able content. Really I’m a big fan of this content.

  17. Thanks for posting such an informative article. It’s to the point and chock-full of content. I feel like I went from noob to expert in a few minutes!

  18. This article on making knives was very informative. I’m looking forward to reading more in the future. thanks for sharing this amazing article.

  19. these are really important and helpful article to know about these things . thanks for sharing this amazing article.

  20. The celebrity athlete is well-known not just for his performance but also for his personal flair. He donned this stylish clothing to one of the occasions. This outerwear evokes the spirit of historically black colleges and institutions (HBCUs). Donovan Mitchell HBCU Pride Letterman Jacket was inspired by his clothing.

  21. He donned this stylish clothing to one of the occasions. This outerwear evokes the spirit of historically black colleges and institutions (HBCUs). Donovan Mitchell HBCU Pride Letterman Jacket was inspired by his clothing.

  22. blogging is really important and informative. people can learn a lot from blogging. this post is also useful

  23. I always feel overwhelmed reading your post

  24. Wow this is really too good informative this blog thanks sharing this amazing article and wonderful information

  25. This blog is very informative i love ths blog thanks for sharing

  26. What are the 4 basic types of cuts?

  27. beautiful knife, The size, shape, and material of the blade are the most defining characteristics of the knife.

  28. Sharping for new year eve meal, going for it. Thanks for sharing it.

  29. This is astonishing data about the making your blade thanks sharing this article!

  30. this is great. thanks for sharing

  31. I found this essay about manufacturing knives to be quite interesting. hoping to discover more later.

  32. This blog is very helpful for many persons keep up the nice work

  33. I appreciate you sharing this excellent knowledge with us; it was quite useful. Without a doubt, I’ll tell my friends about it.

  34. I was Searching For knife. amazing information about the making your knife.

  35. Automatically, they will inform you that your prescription is ready, but they will not have it because corporate has stopped restocking.

  36. Finding the perfect knife is akin to discovering the ideal strategy in an online game like Monkey Mart, where every choice impacts your success. Just as custom knife makers thrive on individuality, gamers enjoy crafting their unique experiences. The article showcases a knife maker who transformed an old file into a valuable tool, reminding us that creativity can lead to unexpected ventures. Similarly, in Monkey Mart, players blend their skills and resourcefulness to build thriving shops. Both pursuits reflect the joy of creation and the satisfaction of seeing your efforts materialize into something remarkable.

  37. In this game, you’ll need to carefully organize objects to create a harmonious arrangement. a little to the left requires players to make subtle changes until everything is in its rightful place. The game offers a calming yet challenging puzzle experience, perfect for those who enjoy meticulous puzzles.

  38. Temper the blade with a torch by running the fire evenly along the blade. Be sure not to overheat it.

  39. Crafting your own knife from an old file is both a rewarding and practical project. The process of repurposing a tool into something entirely new requires patience, creativity, and skill, but the result is a unique, handmade knife that reflects your craftsmanship. I

  40. This is the first time I’ve been to this place. I found a lot of interesting things on your blog, especially the comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

© 2024 The Cutting Edge

Theme by Anders NorenUp ↑

123