needing a round knife pattern

cowboy316 · April 22, 2009, 01:29:29 PM

hey pards im gonna breack down and askk iuf some one has a round knife pattern that that could email me or something im tired of looking around for a used one and cant afford a new one so im gonna just COWBOY UP and try my hand at making one
and if you could let me know what to make the blade out of id be greatfull
thanks pards
Cowboy316

Freedom · April 22, 2009, 05:19:30 PM

When I made mine I just printed the picture that Marshal posted. I then resized it to my likeing...folded it in half to assure the sides were perfectly even, and traced the pic on a piece of cardboard .

I used an old table saw blade with NO carbide tips. You will want the thinest blade material you can find. I just cut mine out with a sawsall and a grinder making sure not to get it hot.

The thinner the blade and the more the blade is polished the easier it will cut.

FWIW I just found a brand new Al Sholman(spelling?) on ebay for $25...They are made in China and the handles aren't straight but the blade steel is VERY sharp and well polished.

Here is a picture of mine...I think that I would reduce the ammount of back-sweep to the blade...mayby even square it off, if I make another one. The back sweep tips do help to lower your hand closer to your work when cutting with the points but sometimes the tips can get a little to "friendly" ;Dwith the web of your hand.

cowboy316 · April 22, 2009, 05:24:27 PM

thanks freedom ill have to do that ive got a few saw blades around i could use and plenty of antler laying around so ill give it a whirl this weekend still not sure bout my metal working skills but im gonna try
thanks again
Cowboy316

Freedom · April 22, 2009, 05:28:15 PM

I used copper tubing and brass rod to make the rivets... Not really the way to go. The brass is a little hard to peen.. It is better with brass tubing and heavy copper wire but I had none at the time..

Harness rivets with the washer would probly work the best..... It is almost impossible to drill throught the saw blades...at least with only one drill bit

cowboy316 · April 22, 2009, 07:05:57 PM

hey freedom was wondering ive got some ole hand saws to would that be good to use or should i stick with the table saw blade
Cowboy316

Freedom · April 22, 2009, 08:18:58 PM

Hand saw might be just the ticket...steel might be soft??...there might not be enough backbone to it either..thin as it is you probly wouldn't have to apply too much force if the edge cuts so backbone might not be an issue.

Marshal Will Wingam · April 22, 2009, 09:06:40 PM

If there is such a thing as a soft sawblade, you don't want it for a knife. Grind the holes or just glue the handles on like I did. I used Gorilla glue and they're on forever. Rough up the steel with coarse sandpaper (80-120 grit) and score the wood crossways so the glue can get a grip on it nicely, especially with less porous materials. Slightly dampen the wood, apply the glue and lightly clamp the pieces overnight, leaving the knife somewhere it can drip the glue off as it expands and eventually dries. I put mine in a vice with a rag under it. Remember not to over clamp it.

If you can't make a pattern, I will send you a tracing of mine. It really isn't rocket science because there is no wrong shape for it. For reference, mine is 5 1/4" tip to tip. I traced the Osborn before I sent it back and adjusted the pattern to my liking.

Freedom · April 22, 2009, 10:27:34 PM

Quote from: Marshal Will Wingam on April 22, 2009, 09:06:40 PM
If there is such a thing as a soft sawblade, you don't want it for a knife.

My mention of the soft steel came from a question my dad brought up when I showed him my knife....he wondered if just the teeth of the saw blades where hardened/tempered....?? I know the blade I used was very hard and it ruined two drill bits trying to drill mine for rivets , I ended up finishing the holes with a dremmel and pionted grinder attachment. My knife has a little flex, takes and holds an edge well so there must be some tempering.

Marshal Will Wingam · April 22, 2009, 11:14:38 PM

I don't know what kind of temper they put in them, but all the knives I've made from them have held an edge nicely, too. They do flex some, but they don't bend.

cowboy316 · April 23, 2009, 11:06:45 AM

thanks Marshal And Freedom for all the great info ive got my template ready to go just got to get in my trailer and dig out one of my old table saw blades and cute it out
posting a pics of the template LOL
Thanks again guys
Cowboy316

Marshal Will Wingam · April 23, 2009, 12:46:45 PM

Looks good, pard. It'll be fun to see the finished knife.

cowboy316 · April 23, 2009, 04:42:16 PM

ok guys got the pattern transfered to the saw blade today but all be if nothing ive got will cut this bladeand i dont really wanna have to fire up the plasma tourch cuz i am no good at running the silly thing any ideas

Cowboy316

Marshal Will Wingam · April 23, 2009, 09:57:56 PM

Howdy, Cowboy. That looks like a good shape for a round knife. Since you're going to make two of them, change the shape on one so you have two different knives. Perhaps make one a head knife instead of two round knives.

Don't cut that with a plasma because the heat will take the temper out of it. I used a peanut grinder with a very thin cutting blade in it. You could also use a dremel but would probably go through lots of those little blades. A die grinder with a cutting blade will work nicely, too. Just remember to keep it cool. If you can't touch it easily with your bare fingers, it's too hot.

cowboy316 · April 23, 2009, 11:40:13 PM

im gonna have to ask around here and see if someone can cut those out cuz i dont have any of those tools LOL im just a carpenter by trade with not much in the line of tools so ill have to make do some how but Ill Git er Done
Cowboy316

Marshal Will Wingam · April 23, 2009, 11:59:25 PM

Here's a picture of a head knife for you to compare to the round knife design. Notice that the back of the blade is almost straight across from tip to tip. If you drew a line straight across yours, you'd almost have it. This one, according to the manufacturer, is 4 1/2" across the tips.

cowboy316 · April 25, 2009, 12:06:14 PM

here i sit with 2 knives to cut out and nothing at all to cut them with $:-\$ but who knows what can happen over the weekend i might find some one round here LOL i could take it to our local welder and have him cut the out and then temper them but dont wanna have to pay an arm and a leg if ya know what i mean LOL
ill keep ya posted
Tim

JD Alan · April 25, 2009, 12:29:29 PM

Cowby 316, send me a PM when you get a chance, I think I've got a deal for you. JD

Freedom · April 25, 2009, 02:00:09 PM

I used a wood jaw vice and a sawsall to cut mine....didn't get hot except right where the blade went through and I just sanded/sharpened past that point...

If your a carpenter then you have a sawsall... The blade wouldn't touch it untill all the teeth wore off then the blede just cut right through.

As you can immagine this was pretty wild but as long as you kept the cutting as close to the vise as possible it worked pretty good.