Basic Knife Making Kit – Carbon Steel

Make your own knife from scratch — perfect for makers ready to take the next step in knife making.

This Basic Knife Making Kit includes everything you need to create a fully functional knife, starting from a piece of premium 1084 carbon steel. Unlike our simpler kits, you’ll design and cut out your own blade shape, grind the bevels, and perform the heat treatment yourself. The result is a completely custom knife that’s uniquely yours.

Kit Contents:
- 1 x Piece of 1084 carbon knife steel (3.2 x 38 x 300 mm)
- Handle scales – selection of Australian hardwoods or imported timbers (options available)
- Metal pin stock – stainless steel, brass, or copper
- Vulcanised fibre spacer material (choice of colours)
- 5 sheets of Rhynowet sandpaper (long-lasting metalworking paper)
- Full step-by-step online instructions (link provided after purchase)

Why 1084 Carbon Steel?
1084 is one of the most popular beginner-friendly carbon steels. It holds an excellent edge, is easy to work, and forgiving to heat treat — giving you a bigger window of success compared to steels like O1 or D2. Supplied annealed (“soft”) for easier cutting, filing, or forging.

Build Steps:
1. Design your blade profile.
2. Rough cut with an angle grinder, hacksaw, jigsaw, or bandsaw.
3. File or grind to shape.
4. File or grind in bevels (filing jig or belt grinder recommended).
5. Heat treat and temper (instructions below) or send for professional heat treating.
6. Attach fibre spacers, handle scales, and pins with epoxy.
7. Shape the handle, sand to at least 1000 grit.
8. Finish the handle with oil, wax, or sealant.
9. Sharpen and enjoy your custom-made knife.

Heat Treating 1084 Steel:
- Heat the blade to non-magnetic (~815–820 °C).
- Quench in lukewarm canola oil.
- Temper at 200 °C in the oven for 2 hours, twice.
- Clean off scale, then final sharpen.

Skill Level:
This is the most advanced kit we offer. It requires more work and skill than our other kits, making it ideal for intermediate or ambitious beginners ready to learn blade shaping and heat treating.

---

For more handle materials, spacers, pins, and knife-making supplies, visit NordicEdge.com.au.
Join the Australian Beginner Knife Making Group on Facebook to share your build and get advice from other makers.