I’m a big fan of knives and tools with unique stories or histories. I also really enjoy tinkering and making things. One thread I haven’t seen on this forum features knives that were originally other tools: wrenches, files, and rasps being the most common. There is always a story behind these knives; and no knife is the same as another due to the inherent process of creating one. Lastly and just as important, there are plenty of shareable techniques, instructions, and (of course) opinions on how to make a knife from another tool (i.e. forging processes and home-made forges, metal types, whether forging is necessary at all, grinding and sharpening techniques, etc.).

So let’s see the knives that you made or purchased that started out as other tools!

One main reason I want to start this thread is to provide inspiration for anyone who wants to try making a knife. Making something useful, such as a knife, is a great experience and something to be proud of. It’s super fun and not hard. A basic knife only requires patience, some raw materials, and common shop tools.

I hope you guys and gals find this as interesting as I do. I look forward to seeing your knives.

Here are the two that I like and use most:
I purchased this knife from Redbrick Forge on Etsy, custom sheepsfoot request. I made the sheath w/pocket clip and bead. The sheath allows it to be EDC functional, safe and properly secured in my pocket. Since the handle is short, the bead is set so that it butts tightly up against my pinky, effectively extending the handle.

I made this knife from a file using a Dremel, bench grinder, and knife sharpener. I know some may scoff at the lack of forging and tempering, but I assure you that it is durable. I did a good amount of research and chatting with folks in the know. If you do it right, the durability of the file will remain with the finished knife. I ground slowly and incrementally, making sure not to heat the metal to the point of tempering while grinding. This knife doesn’t look great, but it’s razor sharp after a year of use and is the best workshop knife I have ever had.