Author Topic: questions about old files (Read 2129 times)

adam · « **on:** December 11, 2011, 08:24:00 PM »

Hey Guys,
I found some old niicholson files lying in the shop the other day and considered turning them into knives. Problem is i've never made a knife from scratch. I've bought blade blanks and added the handles but i'm pretty lost on starting from scratch. Can some of you more experienced guys point me in the right direction as far as what steps i need to take like tempering, heat treating, beveling the blade. Thanks for your help!

Adam

Lin Rhea · « **Reply #1 on:** December 11, 2011, 08:33:00 PM »

Adam,
First things first. You'll need to anneal the files. Heat to dull red and immediately stick in some wood ashes or vermiculite and let it stay over night or several hours. That should soften it. Then start filing to shape. After that take a picture of the blade and put it here in this thread and we'll go from there. How's that? You can do it.

Cruiser78 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 11, 2011, 08:40:00 PM »

I'm going to watch this tread. I to have some old files & have been wanting to make a knife.

adam · « **Reply #3 on:** December 11, 2011, 09:47:00 PM »

Thanks for the response Lin. I will work on it this week and get some pictures posted. Thanks

Adam

kansas stik man · « **Reply #4 on:** December 11, 2011, 10:03:00 PM »

lin is always a great help, not only does he build beautiful knives he is a great person offers his help every chance he gets. there are many other very nice and helpful fellas on here. there is more knowledge offered by the knife builders on this site that can be obtained in a life time. good luck in your knife building adventures p.s.(its very addictive)

David Yukon · « **Reply #5 on:** December 12, 2011, 12:04:00 AM »

I will follow it to!

GrayRhino · « **Reply #6 on:** December 12, 2011, 01:37:00 AM »

Thanks for bringing this up Adam. I've wanted to do the same thing. I'll be following along.

gables · « **Reply #7 on:** December 12, 2011, 09:58:00 AM »

Many people start with file knives and there are many that will discourage you from doing so because of the questionable steel type and makeup. I want to urge you all to dive in and give it a try. I have made several file knives and have been very happy with the results.

Although I have moved into blade steels I still save my dull files and use them for practice forging and shaping. I recently found a post where someone mentioned Dr. Batson had tested some modern Nicholson files and determined they were close to 1095 (more like 1091 if I remember correctly). I recently heat treated a prototype hunter from a Nich file as 1095, convexed the edge and tested it a bunch on rope, brass rod, wood chopping, etc. I was real happy with the results.

gables · « **Reply #8 on:** December 12, 2011, 11:25:00 AM »

Here is a previous build along post that might be helpful.

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=110;t=000665

GrayRhino · « **Reply #9 on:** December 12, 2011, 01:34:00 PM »

That is a great build-a-long. I missed it first time around. Very helpful indeed.

Cruiser78 · « **Reply #10 on:** December 12, 2011, 02:16:00 PM »

That build-a-long is very helpful thank you!

Ragnarok Forge · « **Reply #11 on:** December 12, 2011, 06:36:00 PM »

I called the metallurgical engineer at Nicholsons a while back. Their standard file steel is and has always has been 1095. A few of their fancy or specialized files have been higher carbon steels. I do not agree with the folks who claim a modern American steel file cannot make an excellent knife. Hammonds, Simmonds, and Nicholson files are all made from top grade American steel. I have a lot of file knives out there and have never had a complaint or a return. Files from China are another story!

David Yukon · « **Reply #12 on:** December 12, 2011, 06:48:00 PM »

that is good info Ragnarok, thank you.

adam · « **Reply #13 on:** December 12, 2011, 10:15:00 PM »

well i did make some progress tonight. I was able to heat the file up until the entire length was nice and red then i pulled it out and stuck it in a metal tin full of old wood ash. It will sit tonight and most of the day tomorrow until i get off work and able to cut out the shape of the blade. Maybe i will have some pictures to post tomorrow.

tippit · « **Reply #14 on:** December 13, 2011, 07:31:00 AM »

File Knives...I love 'em. This one skinned at least 1/2 dozen bears before it earned it's stag scales

tippit

razorback · « **Reply #15 on:** December 13, 2011, 11:40:00 AM »

Tippit,
Is that the one you took to bear camp with the green paracord handle. Love the stag handle too.

755 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 13, 2011, 08:27:00 PM »

I have made many blades from files and find them to make very good blades. I worked at the simmonds file plant in ohio before it closed and can tell that all files made there were very high carbon steel. other elements were added to enhance use. vixen files were made from steel having a small amount off chrome added to them,they also make great knives. have fun and enjoy.

tippit · « **Reply #17 on:** December 13, 2011, 10:34:00 PM »

Tony, That was last years bear camp winner.

Kevin Evans · « **Reply #18 on:** December 14, 2011, 07:29:00 PM »

Dag gone Jeff,thats cool,but whats it gotta do to get ivory????Like a bushel basket of em????
:p

adam · « **Reply #19 on:** December 14, 2011, 10:12:00 PM »

Ok, I had a little time to work on it and got it rough cut and ran it across the belt sander a few times and this is what we have. Still have plenty of work to do before we get to the final shape if i decide i like this one. Not sure if i like the design or not. What do you guys recommend the next step is?

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Author Topic: questions about old files (Read 2129 times)

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