Let me just start out here and tell ya's I ain't much good at this, and I don't even wanna start beatin knives out of red hot steel (well maybe someday) But maybe I can help someboy else get hooked makin these babies.     :D    

I start out with a template I made out of poster board, knife and scale.
 
Trace it out rough with a sharpie.
 
Then cut it out with a 4" grinder.
 
Then grind it to shape with my bench grinder.
 
That's all for today, tomorrow I'll do a little more work on her. Unless I feel rambunctious after dinner    

Oh Yeah!...(scoots chair a lil closer)...

Sparky

what material and thickness is the metal sheet?
Where do you get it?

I tried a snuff can. It didn't work. Ya know,they make 'em outta cardboard now!

Killdeer

Dano let me know when ya want my address?    <><

Love that design! Can't wait to see the rest! I just got back from OK and found some more railroad spikes which i hope to turn into knives. I also got to participate in a cornstalk shoot with the Cherokee Cornstalk Shoot Society while there and saw some nice bows. Two of our shooters were up at Mojam I heard. Keep it coming!

Yeah, what are you cutting up for knife material and are we going to retemper it later? What is the little cardboard cutout...handle material pattern?

This is really what I need, another time consuming hobby. May have to pull the plug and retire if I get any more.

Man this is gonna be good... I'm sitting up here close with Sparky watching this one.. Heck My wife might even let me buid one of these as long as I dont have to sharpen it later..

James ( i don't even get to play with butter knives) Young

This is some junk stainless I found, .050 thick. Once I get the handle cut out and drill the holes in the blank, I'll temper the blade.

   An old snuff can might work Killie.

James it might be a good idea if you don't play with sharp tools.  :rolleyes:    :D

How do you keep a Tradganger in Suspense? Have Dano Start a Build Along. Come on Dano, keep this thing going so I can start one tomorrow!!!!  

Ok dumb question here but how do you temper the blade? What purpose does it do?

Sparky move over your hoggin the screen.    

James Young

Alllrighty.... I wish i had a hunk to try and keep up,so I could ask mt dumb questions at an appropriate time... don't worry, they'll come later Dano... as they said way back when, "the only dumb question is the one not asked... then when I asked it, they retracted and ammended, "there is no dumb question, except the one not asked, and that one recruit..."

BTW Dano?  Where are ya, isnt this one live?
Just kidding, cool design.  I cant wait to see her.  Maybe you can send her my way so's i can test her for ya's.
Jeff

:D   :D   :D

Thanks, Dano...!!!


-Frank B

Those are some cool little knives, I saw a couple of them at Mojam.

Hey Dano, do you think this can be done with bandsaw blade material?  I picked some up at mojam.

You're doin' good fer folks here, Dano. I started out lettin' my Dano Caper watch (for old times sake) but the nostalgia got to 'im and he started gettin' "misty" so I had to put him back on the shelf with my other knifes.    :D

 Thanks Bernie, now put the knife up.  :rolleyes:  

Band saw material works great too, just takes a lot of work to polish up. Stainless is awefull hard, but what a pretty blade it makes. If you can find an old circular saw blade that doesn't have carbide tips they work great.

James just pay attention I'll get to the temper in a bit.  :D

Nice build-a-long buddy.I may even have to try it.LOL.Don't s'pose you know the grade of stainless?  

OK, I got the edge beveled and the blade roughly polished. Ready to make the handle.

I got a box of wood scraps a friend gave me, so don't ask what kinda wood it is    I couldn't tell ya  :D   I trace the pattern out then rough cut them on my scroll saw,

Then use double stick carpet tape to match them together, then sand them to the line on a spindle sander.
 
Drill a couple of holes and counter sink the outside holes to accept the brass pins.
 
Next comes the hardening, then the tempering.

See Dano, I knew that there would be alot of interest.

I'm watching and waiting.  Got some stainless, too!

-Terry