Folding Knife Workshop
When: February 26th – 27th 2022 9am – 5pm
Cost: $250 per student
This includes 3 files with handles. Swiss made 8” size in half round, hand and flat patterns. Materials and fixtures to make one knife. All of that goes home with the student. Abrasives- shop roll, sheets and belts will be provided. Additional knife kits will be available for purchase. Lunch will also be provided.
Class will be limited to 7 students
Instructor: Mike Todd
We will be making a simple slip joint pocketknife. I will have the pieces precut and marked, the students will be responsible for final profiling, beveling and polishing the spring and blade. We will cover the fitting of the spring, tang notch and the pre-load so the blade “walks and talks” or opens and closes with a snap. Heat treating will be done with a torch and a hot plate. Spring and blade will be 1075 steel. The handles will be brass or nickel silver- students choice.
This will be a very simple and low tech method of making a folding knife, but that doesn’t mean it will suffer in terms of performance. The most complex tool used will be a drill press. Files will be used for the majority of the work- this takes a little more time, but most importantly- it gives you the opportunity to “sneak up” on the fitting so it goes together well. Additionally, doing it low tech hopefully makes it easier for guys to go back home and make another one. This is a stock removal project, no forging. It has more in common with jewelry making than blacksmithing. Plan on two full days.
*All students must be members of Southern Ohio Forge & Anvil (SOFA) to participate in workshops & classes