I will be holding a "Knifemaking - Plain and Simple" course. I welcome all of you to come Texas and go through my one (1;-) day course which will consist of:
1. designing the blade
2. profiling the blade
3. drilling holes in tang for bolts ad beveling the blade
4. heat treating
5. engineering the handle and handle/blade attachment
6. shaping and finishing the knife
*using a shop with a total equipment budget of < $800
Since a tool is only as good as the man who makes it, there will be a selection and assessment phase for being accepted into the course. You must meet the following minimum qualifications:
1. have an IQ over 100
2. pass a physical fitness test
3. have a resume that demonstrates accomplishment and merit in areas other than
grinding away everything that does not look like a knife.
I can accomodate 3 "students" (from this particular forum) which will most likely be more than enough;-)
Ok, I've done the first five steps already.
I figure we can build your "Valley Forge" Model
I called Knifekits and ordered their stock # CQB1BL which was
actually designed/engineered by my buddy Bob, by the way...
And, it is clearly what you have renamed "Valley Forge"
So, by doing that, I did your first 5 steps.
They are done, mission accomplished.
I better have a beer or something after that rough patch of engineering I went through.
It was a bit dicey there for a second, didn't know if the call was gonna go through.
Turns out I just had to hit the little green phone shaped button though.
All was well after I engineered my way out of that predicament.
So, I've got a great head start on the intensive 1 day course!