saw blade knife

**rebel** · 07-18-2009, 06:30 PM

I have a 10 inch saw blade and I was wondering if you think it'll make a good knife blade?

The thickness of the blade is 1/16. What length would you recommend?

**panch0** · 07-18-2009, 06:43 PM

I've seen alot of nice knives from sawblades, mostly skinners. If the knife edge is the same material all the way through as the teeth are I don't see why not. If the outeredge of the blade is a different material from the center then I would wonder if it is only mild steel. To tell you the truth I would make it, you will learn alot by doing it. If you don't anneal it then make sure your blade doesn.t get hot. If you start to see brown or blue it may ruin the temper in that spot. Keep a bucket of water a dip the blade in often.

-frank

**rebel** · 07-18-2009, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by panch0

I've seen alot of nice knives from sawblades, mostly skinners. If the knife edge is the same material all the way through as the teeth are I don't see why not. If the outeredge of the blade is a different material from the center then I would wonder if it is only mild steel. To tell you the truth I would make it, you will learn alot by doing it. If you don't anneal it then make sure your blade doesn.t get hot. If you start to see brown or blue it may ruin the temper in that spot. Keep a bucket of water a dip the blade in often.

-frank

Thanks for the input panch0.

I thought I'd anneal it.

I was also thinking about making an ulu out of the blade too.

**crashdive123** · 07-18-2009, 07:16 PM

I think that Coot uses saw blades to make his Nessmuks.

**rebel** · 07-18-2009, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by crashdive123

I think that Coot uses saw blades to make his Nessmuks.

I looked up the Nessmuk style. Very cool!

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/sh...d.php?t=661239

you'll need to scroll down to see the knives.

**Ole WV Coot** · 07-18-2009, 09:24 PM

Originally Posted by crashdive123

I think that Coot uses saw blades to make his Nessmuks.

Yep, I use saw blades and they work fine. If you don't mind a little advice I think I have a couple of pics posted somewhere on the finished product so you can judge for yourself. First the way you have the blade laid out I do believe you have a ridge that will run across the blade and handle, hard to work with for a first one, use only the flat steel. Next is the saw blade all steel or carbide tipped cutters? If it's carbide tipped the steel except for the tips is almost the same so lay your blade blank out on it. My quick & easy way to cut the blank out is with a Dremel type tool using regular cutting discs. May take a couple. Cut leaving about 1/8" out, keep cool. Clamp the blank and draw file around the blank smooth. You can decide on handle anytime and drill for pins. Scribe center of blade, on that 10" blade you can get about 1 1/4" up for a flat grind. I get mine 99% before heat treating but if you were careful, kept the blade cool while either draw filing or belt sanding you may get lucky and it may be hard enough for your use so remember how hard it was to file & drill. I go any more it will be a book. I like the Nessmuk style only I make different sizes, have some x-tra hard, others about 55 or so easy to sharpen. Mine are working knives and I have one in the toolbox I have used as a chisel driving the blade edge with a hammer and seldom need to resharpen. I get more than a couple of blades of different sizes out of a 10". Small neck knife I just harden the whole thing. PM me if you want, other guys on here make them a lot better looking than mine.

**rebel** · 07-18-2009, 11:30 PM

Thanks Coot. I like your work!
http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...ght=coot+knife
We'll see what happens....

**panch0** · 07-19-2009, 12:20 AM

Hey coot I have an echo chainsaw bar and a saw blade from a craftsman portable circular saw. Do you think they will work for making some skinning blades? Also do you anneal then and then heat treat. If you could send me a pm with the process you use on saw blades as I would like to try it. I like working with known steels but would like to try different things like saeblades that I could heat treat in a backyard forge.

Speaking of nessmucks, I really like that style of knife. My third knife was a nessie.
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**FVR** · 07-19-2009, 09:13 AM

I've made many arrowheads aka trade points out of saw blades. Cut them out and put an edge on them. I don't worry about the temp. or annealing as long as they are sharp.

**rebel** · 07-19-2009, 04:29 PM

A little progress today. I cut out the basic form for my Coot-knife (nessmuk).

I also made a wooden form to compress the composite scales. We'll see how that works out.

The Mrs. wants me to make her a knife! I think thats a seal of approval. She even picked out the knife design and the scales material. Yep, it's a flowery design.

From left to right: scales box, flowery material, Coot-knife, Mrs. knife.

**crashdive123** · 07-19-2009, 05:03 PM

So far, so good. It's always nice to get the bosses seal of approval.

**welderguy** · 07-19-2009, 05:10 PM

Looking good so far.

**panch0** · 07-20-2009, 01:35 AM

I can't wait to see the micarta handles. Please make sure to post some pics. I was thinking of having some made with pictures of grapes and fruit. My wife has that theme in the kitchen and wanted to make her some kitchen knives with some nice handles.