HOW TO MAKE KNIVES
||| ae
emo
se
|| SSN ia FRR SR ey RL Sy SR
Photo by Weyer of ToledoHOW TO MAKE KNIVES
Richard W. Barney
Robert W. Loveless
Other Publications by Krause Publications, Inc.
Blade Magazine
EDGES, the Newspaper of Knives
Pocketknives Repair: A Cutler's Manual
How To Make Folding Knives
IBCA Price Guide To Antique Knives
Collin's Bowies & Machetes 1845-1965
Krause Publications, Inc. 700 E. State Street, lola, WI 54990
Phone (715) 445-2214 FAX (715) 445-4087Managing Editor: Wallace Beinfeld
Senior Technical Editor: A. G. Russell
Technical Editors: Michael Collins
Corbet Sigman
Jim Small
Buster Warenski
Designer: L. S. Beinfeld
Copyright @ 1995 Krause Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be
reproduced, copied or duplicated by any means, or by any system, including data storage or tape
recording, without prior, written consent. Brief excerpts for review purposes are permitted.
Warni
On the Cover
A subhilt fighter crafted by co-author
R. W. Loveless and Steve
Johnson. Photographed by Jim
‘Weyer of Toledo, Ohio, from
the book of knife photography,
“Knives: Points of Interest.”
ig: Neither the authors nor Krause Publications assume any responsibility, directly or indirectly,
for the safety of readers attempting to make their own knives following instructions in this book.
Knifemaking should be approached with caution and safety in mind. Those inexperienced in the use
of power tools such as grinders and buffers should take extra-special precautions in their use. As any
veteran knifemaker can tell you, knifemaking can be very hazardous to your health. Be careful
kp krause publications
t SAM OT WOH MOND
j 08 horlloM IsvorneFt Hoole eAT yi etinyt A eds oT WOH - I YetqertO
"08 Pineda A gnisisM -S reiqadd
#9 egroh nsw eT 1A stil A gniahd -£ verse
8G boritaM pniveM-tesrt@ etainefta - bretqgrtO
$0 gledT Brisk AW stiad A-sAaM oT woH <2 YeigadtDFOREWORD
| have been privileged to watch the handmade knife industry
grow from five makers producing knives for sale and perhaps five
dozen making them as a hobby, to well over one hundred makers
offering their wares to the public, and several thousand enjoying
knifemaking as a most rewarding hobby. | believe that the real
growth has not yet begun in the field of the hobbyist who wants to
make knives for his own pleasure and use.
You are reading this because you are interested in handmade
knives. Either you want to make them or you want to know what
kind of work goes into a fine knife. | believe that you may have
come to the right place. In this book, two of the finest
knifemakers in history will take you into their shops and show
you, step by step, just how they make their knives. In addition,
other great makers have added their tips on how they make fine
knives.
Since you may be new to handmade knives, | will give you
some background on two of these men.
Robert W. Loveless has been, for the past seven years, widely
acknowledged as the premier maker of hunting and combat
knives. There is no question that Loveless has had more influence
on the design of modern handmade knives than anyone else.
| don't think there is any better place to learn the stock
removal method of knifemaking than in Bob Loveless’ shop, so
step in and look over his shoulder.
William F. Moran is one of that rare class of knifemakers, “The
Knifesmith.” He forges every blade. Bill has been forging knives
for well over twenty-five years and a few years ago redeveloped
the hand-forged Damascus blade. This is an enormous
accomplishment and would be enough to establish his fame, even
if he had not been making fine hunting knives for many, many
years.
If you want to make authentic period pieces in the original
way, follow Bill into his shop and he will show you the tools and
methods you should use.
The third section of this book shows Richard W. Barney using
shop tools and reasonably priced hand tools to show that he, too,
is an accomplished knifemaker. Here he shows how to do first
class work with a modest amount of power and a few simple hand
tools. If you actually want to make a knife, this is the way to start.
In addition to collaborating with Robert W. Loveless in the writing
of the three major sections of this book, Richard W. Barney has
traveled the United States, visiting the shops of Buster Warenski, Jim
Small, Corbet Sigman, and Michael Collins, and researching
vilvill
additional techniques valuable to a new knifemaker. As a result, you
will find here the work of the cream of today’s makers.
| hope that you enjoy this book and your involvement with
handmade knives as much as | have enjoyed being in the knife
business these past years.
A. G. Russell
Springdale, Arkansas
Spring 1977PREFACE
Because we have written this book as a textbook for readers
who intend to buy tools and materials and then go to work, the
text has been put into a certain order. First of all, we suggest you
read the section concerning safety. Knifemaking is hazardous,
and you must be aware of the potential problems and the risks of
carelessness.
Next, we have fully described the two major ways of making
knives, as practiced by two full-time knifemakers. Both the
forging and the stock removal methods are covered, and we urge
a careful study of this material before you begin your own work.
Pay particular attention to the photographs. We have used
the pictures to show you the many steps involved; they are explicit
and detailed.
We have discussed both the tools and the materials of
knifemaking very carefully, in the hope that this part of the book will
be most useful to the beginning worker. Where costs are mentioned,
they are accurate as of the date of this publication; bear in mind that,
the prices listed will increase, possibly by as much as ten percent
each year. Where we have shown you ways to save money we know
such ideas work, because we have tried them ourselves.
Finally, we have included a complete listing of the equipment
and materials sources known to us. These sources have
established their reliability in their relationships with knifemakers
now working, and every effort has been made to insure that you
will be able to obtain your requirements from the companies
listed.
Inevitably, some questions will not have been answered;
some of the answers may come from you. We hope that as you
develop your own methods, you will bear in mind that many
thousands of individual men, working down through the ages,
have freely shared their knowledge and techniques with others,
and that you, too, will want to pass on your own ideas. Making
knives is interesting, even fascinating, and we are convinced that
the very finest knives are ahead of us, yet to be made. We invite
you to contribute to succeeding editions, by addressing your
comments to the publisher.
Richard W. Barney and Robert W. Loveless
Riverside, California, Spring 1977
ix