How to Forge a Blade

Construct and light a small campfire. Once burning well, place the old metal file into the fire, allow it to become orange to red hot, then stop feeding the fire, let it burn down, and collect the file from the burnt out fire when you can be certain it was cooled to room temperature. Do not extinguish the fire using water. Cooling a hot piece of metal slowly, as in this step, will soften the metal, making it easier for you to shape.

Shape the file into the rough form you wish your knife to be. Use a grinding stone to create the outline of the knife, including handle, and then grind in a rough edge on the blade. The metal will be much softer now and easier to work with than if not heat treated.

Light your forge. Once at operating temperature, place the shaped file into it and allow it to become red to yellow hot in color.

Remove your knife from the forge when the color has turned to a red or yellow using your tongs. Evenly and quickly, plunge the knife, tip first, into a bucket containing some used motor oil. Cooling metal quickly helps to harden it, allowing finished edges to remain sharp longer.

Use a fine grit file to create a sharper edge on the blade by filing slowly and evenly in small circles along the edge of the blade.

Create a more comfortable handle by wrapping it with paracord rope to provide some grip on the knife handle.