Neck Knife Build Along (WIP)

**crashdive123** · 07-11-2017, 08:33 PM

Working on a trade with someone. My end of the deal was to build a neck knife. I started Sunday and thought today that I'd do build along, or work in progress thread. I didn't take pictures of a few steps, but will explain. I will take pictures of the rest of the steps.

First the steel. Thought I'd use a rusty sawmill blade. The blade with the larger teeth started out as a 54" blade. The smaller one was about 30".

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Next was to cut out a couple of pieces - one from each. I used a 4" angle grinder to cut two pieces that were about 4" X 7". Next I annealed them in my oven over night.

Next was to cut some strips with my portaband band saw and knock off some of the big chunks of rust.

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Next was to profile the blade. The secret to profiling is to remove the parts of steel that don't look like a knife. Sometimes that works, sometimes the grinder and steel have a mind of their own. This is what I came up with for a profile.

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I'll get back to it after supper tonight.

**crashdive123** · 07-11-2017, 08:34 PM

Since I don't like to fire up the heat treat oven unless it is full (process is just so time consuming), I profiled a few more and drilled them. Next up is the heat treat process.

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**Wildthang** · 07-12-2017, 12:52 PM

Crash,

Did you have to anneal the metal before drilling the pin holes? I thought those old saw blades were hardened?

**crashdive123** · 07-12-2017, 02:46 PM

I did anneal them after cutting out some squares with the angle grinder.

**rebel** · 07-12-2017, 03:12 PM

So, you made 8 neck knives? I like these tutorials.

**crashdive123** · 07-12-2017, 08:07 PM

Well, eventually I will. I like to heat treat several at a time, but I just make one knife at a time.

**crashdive123** · 07-12-2017, 08:10 PM

Heated the blades.

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Quenched in Canola oil.

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They are going through a temper cycle now. Will repeat the temper cycle in the morning.

**rebel** · 07-13-2017, 01:37 AM

I'd like to watch the whole process.

**Phaedrus** · 07-13-2017, 02:01 AM

I love the shape/design! Will it be a skeletonized blade or will you be doing handles?

**Antonyraison** · 07-13-2017, 03:56 AM

awesome, love the step by step process..
Lovely thread. Please continue.
REPS given

**crashdive123** · 07-13-2017, 06:03 AM

Originally Posted by Phaedrus

I love the shape/design! Will it be a skeletonized blade or will you be doing handles?

Handles. The trade was for some 2,500 year old bog oak, some of which is going on the first one.

**Phaedrus** · 07-13-2017, 02:12 PM

Nice! You posted another knife with that scale material didn't you? I was looking at a knifemaking supply store that had some ancient bog Oak, beautiful stuff. I can't wait to see the finished product.