Bladesmithing, or the art of making knives and blades using a forge and other hand smithing tools, is not new but has undergone a resurging of effort and interest in the last decade or so. The actual art of making knives and other bladed tools is thousands of years old and is found worldwide. There are modern bladesmiths who have recently taken up the trade, crafting handmade knives that are fully functional and which can become collectibles for knife enthusiasts.
The oldest knives made by human hands dates back to around 2.5 million years. Materials used in prehistoric times included flint, rock and bone. Six thousand years ago, materials progressed to metals such as copper and iron. Today’s bladesmiths use forms of metal including high carbon steel and a forge, heating up the metal and working it to produce exceptional blades often with hand carved handles. The handles can also be a product of the bladesmith’s hands, often carved from wood.
The basic tools needed to smith knives include a hammer, an anvil, tongs, a vise, and most importantly, a forge. Power hammers, gases forges and electric grinders have made modern bladesmithing easier. The forge is the key to heating up the metal in the temperatures needed to successfully craft a quality blade.
Many bladesmiths learn through an apprenticeship or take workshops or classes, while others are self-taught. According to one local anonymous source (who forges knives for recreational reasons), you can set up your own blacksmith shop for about $500.00. Knifemaking, he says, is a multifaceted, sometimes painstaking process that requires skill and levelheadedness.
According to local sources, a good quality knife usually takes between 15-20 hours of work using a forge and then a grinder to shape the blade. Forge temperature must reach between 2,100 to 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit to manipulate the metal, and the entire process can be described in nine steps.
In a nutshell, the following steps are used in forging blades. First, the steel is placed in the forge with tongs and heated until the metal’s color turns yellow. Next, it is removed from the forge and set flat on the anvil. The corner of the hot metal is hammered into the shape of a knife, tapering both sides. Then the blade is flattened through hammering out the flat edge of the steel to shape the bevels. This forms the cutting edge of the blade. The metal is then flipped, and the opposite side is hammered. A belt sander can also be used to achieve the same effect.
After the shape of the knife is achieved, the metal is allowed to reach a non-magnetic temperature by cooling off until it is no longer red. The blade is then placed back into the forge and the process is repeated up to three times, followed by sanding the blade for smoothness.
Step six involves quenching and hardening the blade by dipping it into oil and allowing it to reach room temperature. The quenched blade is then reheated to a lower temp. Finally, a handle is added to the knife, and lastly, the newly created blade is sharpened carefully.
Knives can also be forged from used railroad spikes and even old saw blades.
While the process sounds simple, it is time consuming and expert, with capable and experienced hands required to produce a quality knife. Expertise is achieved through time, practice and dedication to learning and refining the needed skill.
Forging knives is more of a hobby than a career for most forgers and choice of materials determines the quality and durability of any custom handmade knife. The internet offers self-help videos that provide insight for people wanting to explore the possibility of taking up the craft.
“Handmade knives, through the act of forging, is a great way to pass on something that the maker has put his own personality and care into,” a local craftsman shared. “You pass on a piece of yourself when you pass on the knife.”
