How to make a full tang knife - Part 1

Nevada designer and knifemaker Derick Rougeau, walks you through the process of how he makes a full tang knife from start to finish. This video is to give you a better understanding of the knife making process, but won't bore you with all the little time consuming details. For more information on what he has to offer please visit: www.rougeauknives.com. This video was produced by Rougeau Designs.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• How to
• knifemaker
• knife making
• knives
• blade
• steel
• Micarta
• hunter
• stock removal
• leather
• sheath
• hollow grind
• grinding
• custom handcrafted
• Derick
• Rougeau
• Nevada

[wolfcookieo9]

will you make blades for people that pay you? i have quiet a few designs just not the tools to make knives

[drrougeau]

@wolfcookieo9

I will do custom orders from time to time so if you want me to take a look at what you want done visit my web site Rougeau Knives and send me an email. Thanks for your interest in my work.

[tzDub92]

@drrougeau where can i get some steel to do this?

[drrougeau]

@tzDub92

you can get small amounts of steel at any knife making supplier (Just do a search and you’ll find them) but you pay a little more. For larger amounts check Admiral Steel.

[Digadogup]

why don't you heat the guard a bit so it widens :D

[drrougeau]

@Digadogup

My last comment wasn’t exactly accurate. The guard does get heated up as does the ricasso of the blade so the solder will stick. But it really doesn’t expand the metal enough that you would notice any tightening.

[drrougeau]

@Digadogup

You could do a tight press fit but in the end you need to pin it in place. Soldering also adds strength and keeps moisture from entering into the seams. Using heat to expand and contract the guard to the knife wouldn’t work very well.

[Digadogup]

@drrougeau sorry i ment; to make the guard smaller, so its not a perfect fit and then heat it and squeeze it on. Or would it be wobbly?.

[drrougeau]

@Digadogup

The guard does get heated during the soldering process.

[drrougeau]

Actually I’m using a small milling machine with a drill chuck, eventually I’ll upgrade my milling machine with tighter tolerances. The mill has a mounted vise on it and the table slides left to right and back to front. You could use a two directional vise on a drill press but you’re not going to get good results. A drill press flexes way too much for precise work.

[bubblejuiceman]

What is the attachment that you put on the drill press do make the slit for the knife. you said something about "Milling?"

Thank you :)

[drrougeau]

It was 3/8” thick black and green Micarta. Visit my web site RougeauKnives and under the Links page you will find several knife making suppliers that carry Micarta and other handle materials. Good luck!

[tomptrson]

how thick of micarta do you use? and where do you buy it.

[drrougeau]

@themusic928

Sorry, I don't give out my patterns.

[themusic928]

could you send me the template through email. I like your design but I would like to add some personal changes and try my hand at making one

[drrougeau]

I used to say the same thing before I started making handcrafted knives. “How much for that knife!” But now I understand why quality custom knives are expensive, especially when you use quality materials. This is one of my more expensive knives and I do make less expensive models for the average Joe.

[Frankallen12]

You want $600.00 for this Knife?? Have you forgot about the "working Man" Damn!! WTF!!

[drrougeau]

This knife is for sale, $600. My web site should be up by November 2, 2010 (next week). I have 30 knives for sale and I will have a table at the Big Reno Gun Show in Nevada on Nov. 5-7th. This knife was batch heat treated with 12 other knives I made. The heat treater is a local industry heat treating facility. I need to sell some knives so I can buy a Paragon kiln.

[killerkowalczyk]

@drrougeau are you looking to sell that blade? do you do your own heat treating?

[drrougeau]

The vise has 3.5” jaws and its mounted to my milling machine. I’m looking to upgrade my milling machine. I used ¾” linen Micarta and 0.040” brass spacers with black fiber spacers. The stainless steel is 3/16” CPM154. The blade is 4” and the overall length is 10”. Thanks for watching!

[killerkowalczyk]

What size is that cross slide vise at 3:57 ? thanks! Again, that is an awsome looking blade! What was the material and thickness. I was thinking of making a similar black in cpm154 stainless approx 4" blade 5" handle.