I buy the blade blanks from various sources. I have too many issues to set up a forge and beat the metal into blanks. I thought about it, but with all the arthritis, and surgeries... I'm good buying the blanks.
I am quick to tell folks that I buy them. There is still a lot you can do to personalize the knife from that point forward. These knives will be quick and dirty, but I'll make the next ones more complicated.
To start, I open the drawer with all the wood I have set aside for possible blanks and choose something to fit the blank I have chosen. For this Tanto Blank I have chosen this nice piece of Spalted Maple.
01 spalted maple.jpg
I lay out the blank on the maple to insure the grain will run the way I want it too, then trace it. I mark which side the blank will be for. I lay out the other side and mark it as well. I check and recheck. You only get one shot at cutting. Setting up the bandsaw, I make the cuts, it's close, the layout was very crowded. You always try to leave extra, and don't try and get perfect shapes to start. You can trim up before glue up if you like.
02 cut out.jpg
As I test fitted the blanks, I realized that they would be TOO close and I would not have the room to shape without risking losing the edge and exposing the metal of the blank. Back to the drawer. I chose another blank for the Tanto and set the Maple aside for now. I found a nice cocobolo piece and laid out the Tanto. Looks good.
*** Look at the Tanto blank in the first picture, and the blank in the third picture. Note the finger guard shape. I didn't like the squared off bottom of that guard, and took it to the 1" belt sander. Went thru the 60, 80, and 120 grit belts and rounded that edge... much smoother flow, but still will anchor the middle finger on the grip.
03 cocobolo.jpg
This will be a close fit but I'll be careful. Note the grain on the layout. It should look nice when the shaping is done. A peek in the drawer with knife blanks, and Hmmm... I think I can use one of the halves of the maple on the skinner blank and bookmatch it. We'll find out tomorrow. I have been at this for nearly two hours and that's my shop time limit.
04 skinner.jpg
Most of this process can be done from the Wheelchair, but I had to spend most of today waiting on the phone repair tech, so the day was shot before I got started. Watch this space... tomorrow we'll hope for progress.
If anyone has questions or comments during the process, please feel free to jump in. I am still learning, and am a hobbyist at this. I don't claim to know it all. I can certainly share what I know but welcome tips.