My son got me a Winchester knife like this one:
Amazon.com: Winchester 22-41206 Large Bowie Knife with Sheath: Home Improvement
For $20 bucks he was really proud of this Christmas gift to me several years ago and quite frankly it did better than I expected.....until it broke a couple days ago.
In the short time I had it I lost my hatchet in a move and started using the knife. I've developed a new appreciation for a good chopper!
So, now I'm torn between making one with my son or buying another decent chopper.
Uses, desired attributes:
Thick spine, I've seen Dakruiser's hand made knives and love them!
Chopper!
I wouldn't be upset with a slight re-curve but like the idea of a mostly straight edge for the sake of sharpening more easily. Not a deal breaker.
Sheath, not a big factor. I'd make one if the one it comes with is junk.
Budget to buy one would put me into the cheap knife category I'm sure. Like less than $80 for sure. I have a $100 Gander Mt gift card given to me so I assume that would get me a $40 quality knife there if I add some cash.
I'd really like to make one out of a file (or whatever metal source is commonly used) and I think it would make a good project for the both of us to do together.
Not knowing what I don't know I have some questions/concerns.
What is the logic behind making your own?
I'm hoping that if you have the skills, tools, patience and desire you end up with a really good knife for the money invested. Is that accurate or is it one of those things where the metal quality of a professionally made knife is hard to get with DIY facilities?
As far as the time invested, I'm not worried about that. It would definitely be a labor of love. I wouldn't, however, enjoy it so much if I knew the end product was going to be for show and not as good as something I could have purchased simply because of techniques or materials simply not available to the DIY knife maker.
Thoughts?
Amazon.com: Winchester 22-41206 Large Bowie Knife with Sheath: Home Improvement
For $20 bucks he was really proud of this Christmas gift to me several years ago and quite frankly it did better than I expected.....until it broke a couple days ago.
In the short time I had it I lost my hatchet in a move and started using the knife. I've developed a new appreciation for a good chopper!
So, now I'm torn between making one with my son or buying another decent chopper.
Uses, desired attributes:
Thick spine, I've seen Dakruiser's hand made knives and love them!
Chopper!
I wouldn't be upset with a slight re-curve but like the idea of a mostly straight edge for the sake of sharpening more easily. Not a deal breaker.
Sheath, not a big factor. I'd make one if the one it comes with is junk.
Budget to buy one would put me into the cheap knife category I'm sure. Like less than $80 for sure. I have a $100 Gander Mt gift card given to me so I assume that would get me a $40 quality knife there if I add some cash.
I'd really like to make one out of a file (or whatever metal source is commonly used) and I think it would make a good project for the both of us to do together.
Not knowing what I don't know I have some questions/concerns.
What is the logic behind making your own?
I'm hoping that if you have the skills, tools, patience and desire you end up with a really good knife for the money invested. Is that accurate or is it one of those things where the metal quality of a professionally made knife is hard to get with DIY facilities?
As far as the time invested, I'm not worried about that. It would definitely be a labor of love. I wouldn't, however, enjoy it so much if I knew the end product was going to be for show and not as good as something I could have purchased simply because of techniques or materials simply not available to the DIY knife maker.
Thoughts?
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