Okay, so my next project (after I build a forge, of course) is to learn how to make proper knives. I've bought a highly reviewed book, Wayne Goddard's $50 Knife Shop
by the titled author, a bladesmith from Eugene, Oregon.
I'm really excited to read it, as it is highly acclaimed by many folks at Amazon.
After it arrives, I'll post my review.
UPDATE:
So, after receiving Wayne Goddard's $50 Knife Shop, I sat and read it all on one Saturday afternoon. For a novice blacksmith/ bladesmith like myself, I feel it gave a pretty comprehensive and encouraging beginning to my learning curve. The author, Mr. Goddard, is a renown maker of knives and swords, and his approach is one of master to student--but in a friendly, non-patronizing way.
First off, he makes it clear that this book is a rehashing of previous entries he had made to his column, the "50 Dollar Knife Shop," for Blade magazine.
His main hook is that, with a little bit of ingenuity and what he calls the want-to's, any beginner can set up a knifeshop and start making quality knives for not a lot of start-up cash (the $50 limit is very arbitrary--mainly a token for a small sum of money).
Where this book shines most is in the view we see of the author himself. Wayne Goddard shows us an almost step-by-step timeline of his own foray into knifemaking, and he is careful never to look down his nose at his audience. He goes so far as to say that he didn't even have any initial talent for knifemaking and that his first knives were basically junk compared with what over thirty years of practice and perseverance, trial and error, and a slow accumulation of tools can do for the master bladesmith. I found this to be very humble and encouraging, as well as his insistence on keeping things simple and making your own collection of blades, and less worrying about having the "latest greatest" tools in the shop.
I appreciated the many (mainly black and white) photos and illustrations, as well as a distinct feeling that Wayne knew which questions I would have as a beginning bladesmith. He also added a section specifically on making what he describes as "wire Damascus Steel." I found this section fascinating in that he presents this type of steel as being incredibly strong and beautifully similar to the pattern welded bigger brother known as traditional Damascus steel. I can't wait to try it out.
Another great addition is his plans to make the "world's smallest forge," which is one firebrick drilled completely through its core and a perpendicular hole drilled into the side for a firing hole (which is provided by a bernzomatic torch). Although I did not make this particular forge myself, it did lead me to find a two-brick forge plan online. I will post some photos and video of this amazingly simple forge sometime this week.
Bottom line is, if you want to learn how to make a knife, you should start out by reading Wayne Goddard's $50 Knife Shop.
Just my 2 cents, though.
