How to Make a Knife - Part 1

[@michaelmancuso4647]

Hey Walter, I must have watched this and other videos or yours a few dozen times throughout the process of making my first knife (stock removal method; essentially duplicating all the steps in this video series). I used 1095 steel, zebra wood scales and 3 brass rivets with epoxy to construct a knife i'm truly proud of. Keep up the great work and descriptive videos. Thanks man!

[@mattiasnord611]

Made my first knife using this video as a tutorial, except for the handle Choose to do it with zero powertool and in one day. Can't move my right arm, but the satisfaction of seeing that knife take form, makes it all worth it. Got hooked on knifemaking. Thanks for your videos Walter, they are entertaining and educational. Keep it going! Greetings from Sweden!

[@DwightMS1]

You're a natural-born teacher.

[@calebfoster604]

I want this man to tell me bedtime stories, his voice is amazing

[@denniscotey8182]

Lol. My wife loves it too!

[@Th3Unf0rg1v3n95]

I've been all over KZbin and collecting a folder full of bookmarks and also some of the tools and I must say, your videos and your work have been pivotal in the growth of my interest in this craft. Thank you, sir.

[@slinkurminkur5431]

I just wanted to say thank you! I followed this step by step with some minor changes, did plenty of reading and managed to make my first of hopefully many knifes to come! I'm super proud of it! I personally recommend ending with a 1000 grit sandpaper on the blade for a nice shiny finishing touch, and a good tip I read about is when hardening the steel to use a magnetic to see when you can dip it in the oil. Thanks alot Mr Sorrells.

[@joemmams5785]

watched this a long time ago and today all I have to say,it's maybe the MOST important thing anyone could watch! thank you!!!

[@dennisgilpatrick5460]

My dad was a carpenter in his younger days and he left his old tool box to me.In it was a file that I never had any use for,until I saw your video on KZbin. Now I have a rather nice tanto style blade that I use as a garden tool.I started the project determined to use no power tools(after all if a primitive savage could do it ...).The thing is that primitive savages had all the time in the world,thank God for power tools.

[@ReggyRay289]

YOU. ARE. AMAZING. I've been looking to get into knife making for a couple years now!

[@WalterSorrellsBlades]

Absolutely. Whatever gets you there!

[@xcy7]

I felt heat coming at my face when you demonstrated the annealing process. I was really confused at first but then I remembered I was making food.

[@doberman74]

humble beginnings, I started similarly. Looking forward to the rest of the series

[@GoldenBuds420]

Thanks walter! You really are an inspiration. You have a lot of talent being able to craft american and japabese styles so well.

[@hatcherknives2579]

It's really amazing that you took the time to do this, Walter. I imagine this video will start many knifemakers on The Path. Well done, sir.

[@Surferjoee]

And we're filing, and we're filing..... This is an awesome video for beginners; good call on the old file blade. I enjoy your videos Walter.

[@BigP103]

Great video, Walter! I'm in the very early stages of knifemaking and I look forward to creating blades on the same level you do one day. Thank you so much for this video.

[@whilomforge3402]

Listen to this man, he knows what he is talking about... Corporate giants hate these guys that make stuff on their own, you know, the way we ALL used to do things. If these companies employed the same logic and ethics as days of old, we wouldn't need to make these on our own. People used to be able to go their local hardware store or Sears and get tools, of any nature, that would last for a lifetime. We need to get back to our roots, making things, by hand, that put machine work to shame!

[@Psycosmurf43]

Depends on what you define as "the days of old".

[@brookegermond6123]

Awesome. I like the sand trick. I'm going to use that. I bought four huge files from the pawn shop two weeks ago for this very purpose. Thanks

[@w0mblemania]

Excellent video. Really well explained and put together. Thanks for this.

[@kevink7228]

Excellent Series. Thanks for making these great videos!!

[@petersimonpieters8814]

Thank u so much! I was surching for a good beginners knife video And here it is!

[@rafael31321]

New proyect in 2017. Thanks for all the tips.

[@Johnny-ke3qu]

This video made me realize that I can make a knife after all! Already got a 10 year old file annealed. This is going to be my go to wilderness knife

[@ptriq]

You guessed it, more filing haha. Good video. Thanks for the content Walter.

[@theelfman]

This guy makes it look easy

[@rikthdcruze5847]

I got this Vedio finaly !!!!!!!!! thanks sir... This is the vedio I was looking for....

[@BluntEdgeChisel]

And by use a file I assume you mean use my bench grinder right?

[@WalterSorrellsBlades]

I see you have a future in this...

[@Rideslow6977]

Walter Sorrells Sharp as a bowling ball....

[@eclipsebrony87]

I would pay for an audio file of you saying 'Tang' over and over for an hour

[@lucassassi]

hahahahah exactly.

[@nickbagelboy]

How much would you pay?

[@Eyesofthasouth]

Thanks Walter, this is a great tutorial. You're a great teacher in that you don't leave any block unturned and explain things well. I do have a question. Can I use a matobo blade on my 4" grinder to cut the knife blank out? And a bench grinder to get the majority of the bevel on the blade? Then finish up with a file and sand paper. Not asking this because of laziness just wanna work smarter not harder if at all possible. Thanks again!

[@connlaffan6232]

Great video , simple and easy :)

[@zahialsalman]

I like how almost 1/3 of the people who have sen this have already liked it.

[@strix2035]

well explained. good video

[@duieb]

This is a great tutorial Walter. Thanks a lot for doing this. I have a few questions: 1) Will any file be out good quality steel? How about those "made in china" files, are they any good to make a knife out of? 2) Is there a way to make this without a bench vice? I don't have a shop, I work in my apartment. All I have is a regular clamp. Thanks a lot!

[@dlcknives_and_leather]

great vid mate

[@trevorhuebner4773]

i've been watching your videos for a month or so and watched all of them about 3 times now im buying a belt sander soon i have most of the other tools and well long story short if you could make a video about the different parts of the knife it would be greatly appreciated. thanks

[@amaroussama]

good educative video

[@cazblackwell3686]

i wana learn to make tamahagane but i wana use cut up steel i have no idea if it can be done as im only a beginner

[@robertlunsford1350]

Could you just use the rat tail of the file for the tang or does it have too much taper?

[@WalterSorrellsBlades]

Robert Lunsford Sure, you could do it that way.

[@81hewp]

Lookin for old files in the garage!

[@drakoontag]

file cannibalism (A file eating off other file.)

[@lord_leprechaun2989]

drakoontag I was and old worn out file... Survival of the fittest!!

[@FishingForLife28]

watcing this as my file is in the fire

[@rcmoot]

just watched this. is'nt the nic. files now just hardened on the outside? are they still 1095 steel? nice to see someone also knows how to use a file correctly. clean file just about every stroke. belt sanders cost alot , but will save time. still love making knives too.

[@fergalfleming5993]

Sorry if this has already been dealt with, but I was wondering about the problem of warping/bending when annealing the file. I've started work on a file that I annealed a while back using a similar method to yours, but I let it cool in the ashes of the fire overnight rather than putting it in sand. I've ended up with a bend in it, which I've since read is a fairly common problem when doing this (ie with a file. I'm no metalurgist, and I've got a lot of research yet to do before moving on...). Would putting it in sand have helped with this, or is it just something that happens and needs to bent back straight with a vise or something? Thanks for the videos, by the way. Well presented, well paced, and informative. Ta :-)

[@PlainsPrepper]

I was always told to preheat the sand/wood ash with a piece of hot scrap steel. As it causes the steel to cool more slowly giving a better aneal. However I've never seen anyone else do it that way. Is preheating the cooling medium worth it?

[@rogertbutler5581]

Hi. In order to make sure the file simply isn't case hardened, can I use a grinder to grind a couple millimeters away and then try scratching the inside with the corner of another file? I read about using the grinder and watching the different types of sparks but I'm not sure that I would be able to tell for sure by just looking at the sparks. I think grinding and scraping the inside would be better.

[@johnnyblaze373]

Thanks for all your videos Walter, is it absolutely necessary to 'soften' the steel before hacking away on it? I've not seen this process in other videos, I have only seen people cut the shape and then heat treat to make the steel harder, not softer.

[@yyppeerriitt]

Bez pilníku, pilník neobrousíš :-D Pěkné video, krásná práce. Gratuluji.

[@yyppeerriitt]

No nail file, nail file not stick around:-D Nice video, beautiful work. Congratulations.

[@1c22x333]

I've only just started knifemaking but I find that if I draw my design on a piece of cardboard I can cut it out and see how it feels in hand.

[@ce4130]

I've been doing the same with various materials including particle board, a nice quick way to prototype. Haven't made anything from steel yet.

[@kimmyabold8734]

nice job but why u did not make the knife bigger as the file was big.i wonder too how many hours or days that took 2 achieve the knife thnx

[@gordanator2060]

Question: I am currently in the process of making a dagger of sorts but I'm struggling to work out how to fix a rounded wooden handle. I don't want to use glue (it seems like a tacky method) and I don't have anything to thread the tang either. The tang is about 0.5 by 0.5cm and its square. Do you think I can I could simply drill a hole in the handle and hammer it onto the square tang securely without it splitting with pressure? Also, could I somehow heat the tang, would this cause the metal to contract then swell or something to create a tighter hold? Finally I wont be using a pummel of any sort on this dagger, just so you know (all just one handle).

[@Eagle-hq9pd]

Just subbed won't regret it.

[@Justin-ke5wy]

I've been trying to make a knife but i haven't been able to find already harden steel for a nice strong outdoor knife good for hunting camping and fishing. Do you have any recommendations for the steel and where to get it Online . Also do you think you can do a video about Steel or if you have one please leave me the link to it

[@bebo7002]

How many hours did this project last?

[@skiboyscuba]

Thanks

[@ZorgaulfS]

Silly question but... What kind of sand? Play sand for children's Sand box? and would polysand work any different and how would Thermorock/ Vermiculite work instead, better/ worse for the annealing?

[@jjakemo]

What kind of steel are Heller Nucut 4 way rasps? I have an old 18x1 7/8. Just want to know if it's a good file to make a knife.

[@NymphetaminexXxGrrrl]

Hello, i am a new subscriber with a question. I have some old Nicholson flat bastard files, i have verified the hardness and ground out the teeth. I am designing the blade profile, and the file is not quite wide enough, my question is whether or not i can weld more than one file together and work with that, or if stock removal on welded files is a bad idea. Should i find a different piece of steel to work with, or is welding a possible solution? I guess i could change the design of the knife, but i have my heart set on a large clip point that just wont fit. Any suggestions?

[@haraldkongen]

Could I use a circular saw blade instead of a file?

[@SlasherWTF]

on the annealing process, i've managed to bend the file in the fire, how can i straighten it out?

[@Smiltstomb]

I tried the heating and cooling in sand to soften the file today. I did 3 files. all three are easily filed wit ha bastard file, but also are very tough to cut with a hacksaw still. I'm uncertain as to if it worked. while doing a small amount of filing the material was removed easily and seemed to have no affect on the new bastard file. Just being hard to cut confuses me?

[@AlanAlanAlanDave]

I want to start with o1 tool steel. I don’t need to soften the steel first do I ?

[@tomvanruitenburg1045]

Anyone knows if you can cool the steel down with water instead of oil? Thanks

[@doug12341988]

great videos

[@Screamingtut]

thanks very informative

[@conradpenzhorn3157]

Hi Walter, great video! Which sand do you use for the annealing? Is it just regular sand or should I go and buy a specific tipe of sand?

[@slinkurminkur5431]

+Conrad Penzhorn I used normal Icelandic black sand. Dried it a little and it worked great.

[@maddash1337]

Is there a difference between a old file (I think they should be better qualitiy) and one for 5$ or less on ebay?(Is it possible to get good material for that low price?) Or should I go with some "knifemaker steel"?

[@coen8323]

01 is best

[@ludooliver8728]

maddash1337 1095 steel is the easiest to diy heat treat so I would by that

[@d3g3n3r4t3]

u and i sir are kindred spirits...the c'est la vie phrase was the straw on the camel's back heh...ur kewler than me tho =P

[@projectilekids8915]

Can you make a video hi to make a bevel and an American tanto bevel

[@zerosniper971]

can i use an angle grinder?

[@Halinspark]

What are the pros and cons of making blades with stock removal vs forging?

[@WalterSorrellsBlades]

Really good question but probably too long an answer to fit here. I'll try to do a video on the subject. Short answer; forging gives you more control, takes more work per knife; stock removal is better for air hardening steels (generally, but not exclusively) stainless steels. Lots more to it than that though!

[@DavidLaFerney]

If you wanted to make the very best knife possible would it be forged? Assume that an appriate steel would be used. Thanks for the excellent videos btw.

[@mattbehnke779]

Walter Sorrells Could you heat the knife in a non charcoal grill too? Thanks and great videos

[@rcmoot]

would like to know how knife makers answer to the reply" i can a knife cheaper at wal mart or gun shows. would you consider it an insult to your craft ? what would be a good answer to this?

[@adamtanner1826]

Hi Walter - a quick question for you. when you heat threat with barbeque bricketts as opposed to normal coal, does this transfer any of the chemicals from the bricketts into the steel? and will this have an adverse effect on the metal? I get that this is a basic, personal use tutorial, but it got me wondering... cheers.

[@WalterSorrellsBlades]

Adam Tanner No you won't have any problems with that.

[@adamtanner1826]

Righto, thanks - great tutorial!

[@Adri21n]

hey Walter i was wondering if you could anneal the file without using sand? I simply can't find any sand in the shops around me and i was wondering if there would be a substitute... thanks

[@WalterSorrellsBlades]

Adri21n Any insulator will work. Ashes, for instance. The main point is just to cool it as slowly as possible.

[@Adri21n]

Walter Sorrells So could i even leave the file in the fire once its red, until the fire and the file is cooled down? cheers

[@motomark9736]

+Walter Sorrells if u ou leave the file in the charcoal ash and let it cool as the fire burns out and cools wouldn't that aneal the steel

[@keifman7]

Could I do the exact same process but instead of the old file, use 440c stainless steel? I don't have the most fancy of tools but I could order some of that.

[@WalterSorrellsBlades]

+Keifman Seven (keifman7) Unfortunately not. 440C requires much more precise temperature control.

[@coen8323]

but you can send it off to someone who can heat treat it

[@coen8323]

Keifman Seven no

[@aaronb5848]

Walter, I gave it a shot annealing a file on my charcoal grill. I got it to a nice glow and put it in the sand, and when it was cool to touch I found out the file was now curved. Did I do anything wrong, or is there a way to easily fix this?

[@courtneesdad]

Old trick I learned from an old old knife maker. When you heat up steal and put it in oil. Make sure the knife point is facing north. It has something to do with magnetic north. Try it and let me know how it goes

[@FALpwn]

Aaron B mine did that. I reheated it and I clamped it down to a piece of angle iron with c clamps.

[@skyblinked]

i dont understand - i thought you were supposed to shape it out BEFORE the heat treatment since the metal becomes too hard and brittle. However, after the heat treatment, the blade was dipped in sand and allowed to cool... In other videos, the blade is dipped in oil, and then placed in an oven at 400 degrees and then, allowed to cool. Am i missing anything?

[@thaimetalfan1060]

He do that to make the steel softer. :)

[@TheHitman6421]

Hey Walter I want to make a video of me trying to make a knife from a file would it be ok if i mention you as the inspiration to the idea? Thanks.

[@WalterSorrellsBlades]

Sure, no problem.

[@stevew278]

Does this guy own any other shirts ?

[@TheTechGuider]

why did you make the handle so simple? I mean thats really simple even for a beginner

[@froller2]

walter i can honestly say your the reason i wan't to be a blacksmith

[@chronny21]

I feel I must comment this, nothing to discredit the video maker, ever since Nocholson moved their operation to mexico, their files have been subpar, I have purchased a few myself and the steel is much softer than the USA made ones, and they also tear out and snap very quickly. My advice is to buy a quality made swiss file, Grobet for example, their more expensive but will last quite a long time, even to your children or grand children.

[@laurelhill3505]

Two years later...and filing, and filing, and filing...

[@floksteven6117]

it's need strong hand and skills 💪🙇

[@thomaswork7829]

i do make my own knives sir, and out of necessity they have to be simple

[@freednighthawk]

please oh please add in a note about proper file usage.

[@lightbox617]

why is the blade so short..or am I just over compensating?

[@felix7825]

most laws only allow for a 3 inch blade to be carried on your person as a work tool any bigger and its dangerous. lol

[@HydraBox777]

Lucas murdoch i live in canada and from what i found there is no knife length limit

[@felix7825]

Hydragyrum this is in my own country i never even said canada

[@HydraBox777]

Lucas Murdoch Sorry

[@ShotyGamer]

You remind me so much of George a bush so much it ain't even funny lol thanks for the vid man love your stuff tho

[@SuperBikeJay]

I never knew Kevin Costner made knives

[@coltonhorne4289]

i substituted the blow dryer for a leaf blower. i almost caught my porch on fire.

[@bramf4172]

Instructions unclear, porch caught on fire

[@bramantesecondopiccini2706]

nice boy

[@fireguzzi.]

aaaaand were filing

[@pyro19077]

and were filing

[@ALIENFAN23]

u sound like wowcrendor r u the same guy or do u just sound like him?

[@WalterSorrellsBlades]

No that's not me...

[@ALIENFAN23]

Walter Sorrells k btw ur videos are beyond awesome is there good money in knife making?

[@WalterSorrellsBlades]

Sadly............

[@ALIENFAN23]

Walter Sorrells sadly what?

[@BCBBCL]

ALIENFAN He meant "Sadly, there's not good money on knife making"

[@colelindbo7710]

The taaang

[@mynardpease6411]

when i first tried this my fire melted trough the file

[@JEMBlades]

Aaaand we're filing...

[@dahlmasen3084]

Taaaaang

[@muskymoobs6756]

While this knife is very cost efficient I think that this would tax on your sanity when you use a file on a file, Just my honest opinion. Never made this before but i will try

[@WalterSorrellsBlades]

That's why you anneal it. Without annealing, it's impossible.

[@knifeman1122]

0.12 seconds in the video. Look on the handle. U can see a face

[@jimgubalau]

and the taaaaaaaaaaaang