Top Ten Knifemaking Tools for the Beginner

In this video, knifemaker Walter Sorrells gives his line-up of the first ten tools that you'll need in order to make knives. It might surprise you that most of these tools are not expensive or hard to find!

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[denisdepriest]

I am an older guy, (78) and trying to get back to knife making. I am finding out that it is not like riding a bike, not for me anyway. Your videos are just the thing that I need to help me get back to where I was twenty five years ago.I remember helping some new makers along the way. One of those is now a master blade smith. I remember helping him building his first forge. His first knives were much better than most makers here in south Louisiana at that time. In any event, now that I can watch your videos, falling off of the bike is a little easier now. Denis De Priest.

[flytyer]

I made knives for years with a 1x30 belt sander from harbor freight....

I have a 2x72 now, and I still the small one, great tool for $40

[johnmood]

I really appreciate the way you make your videos Mr. Sorrells. You don't talk down to the beginner, but you give enough information that your viewers do learn a lot. Thanks a lot for yet another very informative video.

[TheWyoCoyote]

In 2004 I was stationed in Camp Arifjan, Kuwait when I got deployed.  I worked 12 hour nightshifts in the Operation Center for a year with every other Wed night off.  I got R&R about 5 months in, and mailed a bunch of basic tools back to myself. I ordered a piece of 1095 2"x18" from Jantz, and when I got back in country went to work every morning for a couple hours on a big bowie knife. I had a radio operator who was in an Engineering Battalion. I would go over and work on it everyday, then I used their cutting torch to differential heat treat it.  I ended up welding the tangs on so I could have a second piece to build a hunting knife also. It came out awesome. I had to finish grinding it stateside because once heat treated no more files and sandpaper. 15" oal. I forged a piece of 3/4" brass round stock square to make the guard, and got frying oil from the DFAC to quench it. I had a civilian guy in the TOC working range control. I explained what I needed done and he took it home and tempered it at 350F for me in his kitchen oven. I got a piece of Black Walnut, and a piece of Mahogany (not the best but looks good)for handle from the carpenters. I bought a leather belt at the PX and made stacked leather in the handle. I made a wooden sheath for it that actually hangs on the wall with our unit shield to hold it in (hard to explain but came out great. My whole story being if you want to make it you can get it done just use your imagination to solve the problems.

[benreyes]

I have been trying to get into knife making for a while but could never find a reliable educational source. Glad to say i finally found it. You are awesome!

[TheBladepolisher]

Walt is about as easy a human to listen to as there ever was. Thank you sir ! ! Will be suscribing and watching the rest of the video library.

[ivysinistra]

I made a knife yesterday (still needs heat treat) and I only used a drill press, bench grinder, hacksaw, and a file.

And I hand-beveled the edges with the file. I mean, this is my first knife so I'd say it turned out well.

Your videos taught me a lot.

[jaekn]

It would be really cool if you did a knife using just the basic tools so that the beginner can see what these tools are capable of with a skilled hand. I suppose that would be super time consuming though, ..

[andrewwilson]

Sage advice for all. I would only add that a good quality used item is a better buy than a non descripti cheap import. Garage sales and markets are solid hunting ground. Nothing bought new has the same buzz as finding a diamond in the rough at a yard sale!

[yourleftnostril]

I would love to hear more about this handcuff thing :D

[BostonBrand]

Walter Sorrells it seems is a natural born teacher. He uses deliberate and exacting language that leaves no question in the viewers mind what he's talking about. There are a lot of people who teach that get too much satisfaction from leaving a person feeling they know something you don't. That's not a good teacher. I don't get anything like that from this gentleman. I do have a question only because I'm wondering what's sandpaper, the most useful item in almost any kind of shop, if not a tool?

[xMemnnx]

Perfect timing, I was actually going to order my first tools in the upcoming days/weeks. Thanks for your helpful videos !

[Dustypilgrim]

Liking this series  as I am just in the process of trying to set up... Grateful to al the 'makers who have offered start up advice and guidance.  also ... Massive compliments on your work.

[FireCreekForge]

Great video! I will say that I would have to put the vise at the very top of the list, only because anything else you do, like filing or sawing, you must have your material secured for effective work.

[Zedoutdoors]

A great video once again and really helps knife making newbies like myself ~Peace~

[propblastnd]

Thanks Walter for making these videos! I'm a retired VN vet and this will be something to try.

[HELLICRINATIOn]

I was able to order everything on this list for just under $600 Australian, including a belt grinder, a very low quality belt grinder, but should be good for starting out, thanks for this list man, great stuff!

[umityayla]

Walter you are one in a million. Your videos are really fun and worth a lot. Thank you again and again.

[CoolHippy]

Fantastic video... well thought out and articulated ... I can't tell you how much I appreciate watching a video where every other word isn't someone saying basically

[AlphaMachina]

This just sent me over the edge. Now I'm about to go out and drop a modest sum of $1800 on some tools I don't already have. I used to live here in Baton Rouge on a compound with my family and a man named Shiva Ki and watching him forge his flesh eaters and spirit blades every day kind of got me into a fever over knives, especially great knives. So here I am, 16 years later getting into on my own. I have a one of a kind Shiva dagger in my living room, and I know I'll never live up to making blades like that, but maybe I can make blades that surprise even me.