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That's some excellent work. That filing jig is undeniably the best I've ever seen, and you're knives sure aren't shabby, neither! Talk about inspirational...

I'd buy that anvil in a skinny minute. At less than $2/lb, it's a great deal as long as the rebound is good. Tap the entire face with a hammer to listen for dead spots. Look carefully for any cracks that might not be caught with a cursory glance. If it all checks out, you should snatch it up...

Best thing is to watch the want ads and flea markets. I've bought a ton of Wiltons for dirt cheap because they were "old". Still absolutely functional, but they didn't look new and shiny! Generally speaking, any of the larger older vices will be a good vise. The bigger you get, the better...

Don't feel bad, Ted. As much as I'd like to not, I can't deny the obvious any longer and will have to join you in pulling out of the KITH. Between six day work weeks and some family troubles, I just haven't been able to get time in the shop to have fun and finish my contribution to the...

I'm running behind due to family issues, but still interested in sending my blade to someone. I just have to get something done for the handle, which shouldn't be too hard unless I screw up the tang again!! Hint: It's no longer going to be a full-tang with scales..... Oh, and I'm still on...

I am waaaaaaay behind, but hope to get something decent done in time. I have one blade that's treated and ready for a handle, but I can't come up with a handle idea to save my life!! Still, don't count me out quite yet. I have a few more weeks.........

You do good looking work, and I give you extra points for having the weirdest anvil I've ever seen. Holes? Whoodathunkit?!?!

Right now, I'm using the cheapest spray-on adhesive I could find at the auto parts store. Spray one side only, let it get tacky, then apply the paper to the disk. Works great. Also used the 77 and found that it was an excellent product. Just more expensive for the same results.

And you've just nailed it. As a beginner, a lot of guys are giving it their very best effort and should be applauded for it. Similarly, adding texture or "process markings" isn't bad. When I look at a Winkler or Marchand, I can't help but be impressed. They've incorporated great visual...

I can see where you're coming from, hoss. I'm not too worried about what they call it except when they use that title as an excuse to fail. Like I said above, "primitive" man was building pyramids and forging wootz steel. DaVinci didn't have OSX and a laser jet printer. King Tut's kit in...

I'm very wise sometimes. :D Hurry up and finish it so we can see what it looks like.

Looks good so far. I wonder if you have enough material to wrap the pointy end around and weld it to the blade portion to make an eye?

I usually stop my sanding at 600g, and think the finish on paper and linen is far better than what I get on canvas. If there's a trick to getting a better finish, I haven't figured it out yet.

I've got a blade "done", but the tang had to have a major re-do and I'm going through parameter changes to compensate. If drinking wasn't a problem before I started trying to make knives, this knifemaking thing sure would have been enough to drive me to drinking! :(

Good dialogue, gents. My reason for the OP was that I didn't want to see poor quality be given a name or somehow be made acceptable because it's supposed to be "primitive". We all start out as poor smiths and horrible knifemakers, and that's okay because we're supposed to be bad at the...

And don't call me Mister. I work for a living! ;)

Excellent tutorial, hoss. I've been thinking about making one of those, but I'm hunting for a blower first.

All this talk about neo-tribal and primitive stuff leads to a lot of shoddy workmanship. Maybe it's just me, but I see a lot of photos on the web that show poor design, minimal hammer control, sloppy fitting of components, etc. But it's "okay" because it's supposed to be primitive or neo or...

You're undoubtedly right, Earnie. Ugh, those things are ugly! Here's a link that shows some of Jim's work. His spike knives actually look good and still resemble, to a degree, the spike they started out as. http://forums.dfoggknives.com/index.php?showtopic=18360&view=&hl=&fromsearch=1

I wouldn't say you don't have the skill, SOL, you just didn't finish it. I'm sure his tomahawk look very similar to that before the hours of filing and sanding! As for making knives out of spikes, I'm generally against it. I personally cannot stand when the smith leaves the rear portion alone...