Are Files used in metal work used to manufacture knives & are they worth anything?

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Golden Gate Bridge

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Are Files used in metal work used to manufacture knives & are they worth anything? I'm talking about your standard length and size files that are approximately 8-10-12-14 inches in length and 1-2 inches in height that you would see in a garage. Do knife makers buy these to make knives with and if so, how much are they worth?
 
I'm sure some do use the files as a source of steel but i bet they wont pay much more then scrap value because used files are very common.
 
Old American files were made of good quality, hard steel, like L6, and these make good candidates for making a knife out of. New Nicholsons are made in Mexico and India, out of who knows what, and are soft and shit quality. There is a bunch of topics on this if you do a google search.

Some well known knifemakers make their knives out of them. That said, I paid like $6 for 12 old American files at a flea market last year. If you have a bunch of old rusted files in a garage somewhere, you probably aren't going to get rich selling them if that is what you are angling at.
 
I've seen the work of a couple of makers that specialize in file knives, The right file will make a pretty nice knife. A good brand, used file with a lot of life left will fetch $2-$3 at a flea market. A shot file is worthless to most so anything above scrap is a fair deal. If you know someone who makes knives out of them you might try to cut a deal with trade.
 
Danketch said:
If you have a bunch of old rusted files in a garage somewhere, you probably aren't going to get rich selling them if that is what you are angling at.
Click to expand...

I occasionally see old metal files at swap meets, flea markets etc but if they have little or no value to knife makers, it's not worth my time. There goes that "Get Rich Quick Scheme #101."
 
There's a couple of guys who show up to every local Gun & Knife show here, and they make some really great looking knives out of old files. They seem to be pretty particular about the type of steel the files are made out of, and they claim that they are as good as any modern tool steel. I've never tried one because they are so pricey, but they sure are purty! Maybe someday I'll bite...
 
Not really any monetary value but I made this here out of an old, old rusty thick Disston machinist file and I love it, shaving sharp and still 5mm thick, polished up like a new nickel.
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I came accross an awsome knife made from an old rasp file, the maker had left all the material above the grind as the original file texture, looked like he then blackened it then polished it to make the texture pop. Looked spectacular.
 
I've made a lot of file knives.
 
Newer and offshore files are case hardened. The carbon is sprayed/painted on and the hardness is only near the surface.
 
Good files and rasps do make good knives, but they're frankly more trouble than they're worth unless someone REALLY digs the pattern left after grinding or forging bevels into them. High-quality, brand new carbon steel barstock is pretty inexpensive. You'd have a hard time getting a maker to pay much if anything for a bunch of old files.
 
I've heard of this a lot. I think there are a lot of knives out there made from good file steel.

There is also a guy who makes knives from new top grade sabre saw rescue blades...designed to cut through concrete, cables, etc. They are pretty neat but I lost the URL for him. Looked like a great neck knife or thin concealed carry fixie...and super sharp. Wish I'd bought one.
 
Chris Reeve, IIRC, started making knives from files.

Obviously that's not the case anymore but i do remember reading that he was making knives from old files while in the military in South Africa.
 
Micheal Morris makes knives from old files. They are nice and he has a lot of different paterns.
 
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