Possible to make a well-made modern liner-lock knife without a CNC machine?

G

guy-montag

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Jun 30, 2011
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I make fixed blades, but I've been wanting to try my hand at making a modern style liner lock pocket knife (aka not a Case folder).

Just about everything I see out there is made with a CNC machine. If I don't have a mill, just a 2x72 wilmont grinder and drill press, is it still possible to make a good one?
 
I would certainly think the answer is "yes" but I'm looking forward to responses from those that have done it.
 
I don't use cnc, waterjet or any automation and I make linerlocks, bolsterlocks and framelock. You can do a ton with basic equipment if you are innovative. So yes, there are a lot of guys making very high end liner locks without automation.

This was all manual, including freehand hollow ground blade.

C8F60ED5-859D-4105-A4D5-7AF2BC76DA5F_zpszv1gqfeh.jpg
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Great looking work Pittblade.
If you would like to see some of mine please go to custom knife gallery of Colorado. Sorry I don't do many pictures myself and don't know how to send.
Frank
 
Frank Niro said:
Great looking work Pittblade.
If you would like to see some of mine please go to custom knife gallery of Colorado. Sorry I don't do many pictures myself and don't know how to send.
Frank
Click to expand...

Hi Frank,

This is the picture I found -
niro_fordite_1024.jpg


So this was done by hand, no CNC? How do you install bearings and such? (beautiful work by the way! And is that Fordite you used for the bolsters?!)
 
Frank Niro said:
Great looking work Pittblade.
If you would like to see some of mine please go to custom knife gallery of Colorado. Sorry I don't do many pictures myself and don't know how to send.
Frank
Click to expand...

Beautiful work Frank, and thanks.

Bearings are usually placed in a bearing pocket. You can use a counterbore or and end mill. Just clampnyout work piece down.
 
There are many more besides Pittblade and I not using CNC stuff and water jet cutting etc..The problem that first shows up is the time taken to make , so making a living could be a huge problem if that's where you want to go. Still I sure wish I had long ago found a surface grinder or milling machine or both. My shop is now 7' X 9" and I would have to now do without .
Yes that's called Fordite.
I like to try to help newer liner locking folder makers along if they wish, both nearby and far away. A loty can be done on the phone ( I have a flat rate one) and through the internet of course although I barely get by answering messages. My phone no. is 1-250-372-8332 My email is frankniro2@gmail.com
Some say the liner locks are easier to make. I don't know if that's true. They do seem to allow for more freedom in the making. The assembly with screws means higher tooling costs for sure.I love doing these and looking at what is being done.
Frank
 
Frank Niro said:
There are many more besides Pittblade and I not using CNC stuff and water jet cutting etc..The problem that first shows up is the time taken to make , so making a living could be a huge problem if that's where you want to go. Still I sure wish I had long ago found a surface grinder or milling machine or both. My shop is now 7' X 9" and I would have to now do without .
Yes that's called Fordite.
I like to try to help newer liner locking folder makers along if they wish, both nearby and far away. A loty can be done on the phone ( I have a flat rate one) and through the internet of course although I barely get by answering messages. My phone no. is 1-250-372-8332 My email is frankniro2@gmail.com
Some say the liner locks are easier to make. I don't know if that's true. They do seem to allow for more freedom in the making. The assembly with screws means higher tooling costs for sure.I love doing these and looking at what is being done.
Frank
Click to expand...

Knifemaking is not something I would want to try and make a living at, making really nice knives takes too much time to be commercially viable sadly. It seems like the more commercially successful something is, the farther away it is from handmade art. Art takes time! I have the luxury of working a desk job that allows for the occasional purchase of nice tools, the best I hope for is to sell enough knives to break even on material and tooling costs, I have given up hope of breaking even on labor hah.

My interest in folding knives is due to having friends who want knives they can take and use with them on a daily basis. Most of them work desk jobs, so fixed blades don't fit in terribly well. Plus, it's something I haven't done before and would love to try!

I haven't even gotten far enough along to have questions yet, but I greatly appreciate the offer of advice, I may be taking advantage of it a few months from now :)
 
There are a couple options not yet mentioned...1 is to purchase a KIT knife you can assemble to understand all the interplay between components. 2 is purchase a Folder you like and disassemble.

With limited Time Tools and Funds this might be a good starting point with tools you already have.

Folders require a lot more small parts readily available from most of the knife supply houses.
 
It is absolutely possible and I would even say reasonable to make a nice modern folding knife without CNC, a mill or waterjet.

I have made at least a dozen and I personally know MANY others who do it regularly. The biggest issue is keeping parts flat and parallel and for that a surface grinder is EXTREMELY nice to have. I wouldn't want to make folders without mine. BUT....it can be done without a surface grinder too. I've seen more than a few really nice folders made without them. Time, patience and some knowledge and a little experience can take you a long way.
 
the answer is - yes, of course it is :-)
A CNC machine gives you fast repeatability (amongst other things)

I think a flat 9" disc grinder would be very helpful and it's a great value all around.
Mostly you need all the parts to be flat and square

get Terzuola's modern liner-lock book, nothing in there about a CNC machine,
however he has developed jigs and tools over years and years that give him the repeatability he needs
 
was going to say with a proper set up drill and belt sander would get you along way. its about all the little details (i do ilke having a mill for slitting the lock bar tho )
 
I made my first folders with just a press and grinder. I've added so much more equipment like a surface grinder converted to using belts, couple of mills, different grinders and so much more.

There will always be a market for cnc and non cnc. But as Karl said I end up spending a ton of money on my shop. I'm fortunate that my books closed long ago and my knives are extremely expensive but people still want them. It's probably because I do this as a hobby and only make 1-2 knives a month. I have all the respect for full time makers, I would never be able to do it.
 
I never use any cnc or cutting services, and only recently added a mini milling machine. The main thing is to learn how to set up your drill press exactly square, one or two degrees off can make a big difference over a 3" or 4" blade.

The only thing I used my mini mill for on this one was cutting the lock bar and the bearing pockets which can be done with a dremel and drill press.

 
Here is one of the better WIP/tutorials I recall seeing, where no CNC machines were used, and IIRC, not even a mill:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1028982-Build-a-linerlock

Also, try to find a copy of Bob Terzuola's book on making tactical folders. It goes fairly in depth on liner lock/frame lock design, and at no point requires any CNC equipment.

FWIW, having a CNC anything, especially in a non-commercial shop, is a relatively recent development. Although they've essentially existed for decades, they used to be very cost prohibitive and fairly difficult to learn and operate without some kind of advanced degree or apprenticeship. Over just the last few short years, home shop CNC machines have kind of exploded with much more affordable equipment and much more accessible programs and CAD/CAM resources, and machines are only getting cheaper and better, especially around the used market for pro-level stuff. All that just to say, makers have been making without CNC for years and years, and still continue to do so. Is everything possible without a wire EDM, cnc mill, lathe, waterjet etc? Not necessarily, but MOST of it is.
 
guy-montag said:
I've got a 12" disk sander (this one - http://www.harborfreight.com/12-inch-direct-drive-bench-top-disc-sander-43468.html), a drill press, and a 2x72 Wilmont grinder, sadly no surface grinder at the moment.

Aside from a surface grinder, are there any other must have tools for making good liner lock knives?

On a side note, what's the best way to square up a drill press? This is the one I have - https://www.lowes.com/pd/PORTER-CABLE-8-Amp-12-Speed-Floor-Drill-Press/3162489
Click to expand...

Do a google search for "Tramming a drill press" and you should get plenty of resources. For the most part, all you need is a decent dial indicator, and some way to rigidly mount it to the spindle.
 
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