Starting the cutlery, it's not easy! Many questions come to mind when one wants to discover the universe of the cutlery: how to start in the realization of knives? Which knife model should I go to start? What are the basic elements that make up a knife? What are the basic knowledge to acquire? To put all the chances on your side and allow you to start your learning smoothly, discover the fundamentals to start in cutlery in this blog article !
Forge or Removal stock ?
When we start to document, we inevitably fall in the two ways to make a blade: the forge and the removal stock (removal of material in French). But what is herself behind these terms ?
Forge
The blade on the anvil is hot with different tools to arrive closer to the final form. This practice requires learning to acquire the right gestures, use the different tools and manage the steel heaters.
Removal stock
We start from a desired thickness steel dish and the factory is removed by removing the excess material from the final shape.
What to choose between the forge and the removal stock in cutlery ?
It is often heard that a forged blade is more resistant or cut better than a machined blade ... The essence of the quality of a blade is in the choice of steel, its shape and especially the thermal treatments. So this question does not have a decided answer! Many professionals practice both methods.
To start in cutlery: the removal stock is easier to implement because it requires less material and practice.
Knowledge to acquire to start in cutlery
You can not get started in making a knife without any basic knowledge.
You have to be very careful about "tutos" that can be found on the internet where the best rubs shoulders with the worst ... It is far better from going on safe values with serious informative content. To this end, it may be useful to attend specialized forums or groups on Facebook and take advice from experienced people !
What are the main knowledge required to start in cutlery ?
Mounting a knife
The mounting of a knife is the way we make the assembly of the blade and the handle.
For fixed knives, we find mainly:
- Knives in sole platform
- Silk editing knives
For folding knives, there are many mechanisms, with or without blade blocking:
- Flat Cran: knives without a real blocking system, but which have a natural closure resistance of the blade.
- Two nails: one nail is used for the blade axis, another is used for the blade heel.
- Piedmontese: the heel of the blade extends to form a small outgrowth, which comes to "lock" on the back of the handle and keeps the blade open.
- Forced cran: the most common system, the end of the spring in contact with the heel of the blade has a notch, which will block the blade.
- Rear pump (lock back): works as a classic forced jack, except that a pusher (pump) will be required at the back of the pump handle to free the blade.
- Liner lock : the platinum, inside the handle, will block the blade in open position. It will be enough to shift this rod with a finger pressure to release the blade.
- Frame lock: Same principle as the liner lock. The difference is that it is not the platinum, but a whole part of the structure of the handle who will come to lock the blade.
To start in cutlery : The fixed blade knife in flat sole is ideal to start learning cutlery.
Metallurgy in cutlery
As strange as it sounds, there is no need for advanced knowledge in this area. Cutlery steels are known and standardized. They usually have associated technical data sheets that allow them to be used without having a great knowledge of metallurgy.
The basic steel is composed mainly of iron and a little carbon. Adding certain alloy elements (e.g. chromium, nickel, manganese, etc.) alters the properties.
Carbon steels are low alloy steels, easier to work. Stainless steels contain at least 13% chromium.
An important notion to know is the "grain" of steel: the more fine it is, the better.
Thermal treatment of steels
It is the fundamental and indispensable part to know. A heat treatment is a set of heater(s), cooling(s) and bearing(s) whose duration, speed and temperature are controlled for the purpose of changing the steel structure.
Starting from steel which has been forged or whose provenance is uncertain, it is necessary to make successively:
- The annealing of steel: removes the internal tensions of steel and makes it easy to work.
- Standardization of steel: reduces the size of the steel grain
With high-quality steel, we can only do successively:
- The quench : hardening of steel by heating followed by rapid cooling
- Income: operation to reduce the fragility of steel after quench
These treatments depend on the steel and equipment available to the cutlery. The fact sheets shall provide the information required to carry them out.
For beginners: Eurotechni can support thermal treatments of your blades. Do not hesitate to contact us to get a quote !
Mounting a knife: necessary operations and tools
Whatever your equipment, making a knife will require the following operations:
The cutting: whether the blade is forged or made in Removal Stock, the metal must be cut. This can be done by choosing:
- Corner grinder
- Saw for metal (manual or motorized)
The finishes to arrive precisely to the desired shape can be made to the lime, sander or backstand.
The clutch: to make the clutch is to form the edge by creating a bevel.
The different types of clogging are the following, visible on the diagram above:
- 1: Partial Flat Embuser
- 2: Flat Embuser
- 3: Curved Embossed (convex)
- 4: Creuse Embuser (Concave)
- 5: Chisel Play (Asymmetrical)
Regarding the tools needed to start the cutlery:
- Discount (small 125mm model, handled with delicacy) and file finish or sander
- Sander
- Limes
Drilling: a must! It is almost indispensable to have:
- Drill on column
- Game of good quality drills
Polishing: Regardless of the selected blade finish, it will be necessary to work its surface condition.
- Sander
- Sander or support for abrasive paper
- Game of paper sanding paper (coach paper for metal)
- Dry sanded paper set (for wood)
The basic workshop of the cutter
In fact, a good handyman's workshop is enough to make his first knives !
The essential tools for the cutlery are:
- Vise
- Drill on column + forests
- Metal saw and wood saw
- Set of good quality limes
- Tape sander or disk
- A few seal or tongs springy
Cutlery tools to go further
With additional material, we will win time or certain operations will be facilitated. Among the useful tools:
- Backstand
- Charcoal forge or gas forge + anvil + hammers + pincers ..
- Electric oven for heat treatments
- Electric lime
- Polisher
- Ribbon saw
- Singing saw
Choose your cutlery materials
An essential aspect in the realization of a quality knife is the choice of materials! In synthesis: not top materials will give a knife not top! It is obvious, but unfortunately too often ignored.
Recovery and recycling of cutlery steels
What seems to be a good idea is not one, especially for steel! On many sources, we can see blades made from old shock absorber springs, saw blades, mower blade ... But each steel has its specificities in terms of heat treatments and when we recover an unknown song, we do not know its composition and so how well the work !
In addition, some recovery steels have already been used and have been mechanically solicited. They can have microcracks, invisible to the naked eye. These microfissures can create breaks when forging or down the blade breakage at the quench..
Cutlery steel
It's the fundamental choice to do. For a beginner it's a little jungle: a lot of references, stainless or not ..
For starters, the XC75 is a must! It is easy to work as well in forge and in stock removal and it gives blades completely respectable. There is no better in terms of compromises advantages / disadvantages compared to the price! We propose in a bar of different sections for all uses. Our technical sheet will provide you with the data necessary for thermal treatments.
Materials for handles knife
Materials for handle are very varied:
- Wood (very dry obviously and not split)
- Synthetic materials: composites, resin and carbon fiber
- Materials of animal origin (deer wood, horns, ivory)
Cutlery hardware
The montages and assemblies of knives appeal to lots of small odds:
- Rods
- Rods
- Screw
- Washers
- ..
All of these materials and accessories are available on our online store.
In summary !
To start in cutlery, it takes first and foremost:
- Get good materials: XC75 steel, quality wood, adapted accessories. Be wary of recovery !
- Acquire the knowledge: Learn about reliable sources. Attention to approximate videos and "show" emissions.
- Investing in good tools: it is better to have some quality tools on which we can count. Avoid purchases on some sites with very low prices !
- Take your time: precision and quality do not mix with the precipitation! Check your work at each step before moving on to the next.
Perform one's first knife
The goal of a first knife is triple:
- Make your own knife
- Learn to progress
- To be happy !
When we start, you have to make the measure of her knowledge. The simplest knife to make is a flat in stock removal. You can help with the diagram below:
Want to go further ?
Some useful links to learn cutlery
- The videos of Torbjörn Åhman
- Koss's videos
- The coustil website
- Our YouTube channel
Some books on the cutlery
French books
- It's forging ... by Strozzini Roberdoes
- The Thiers - Secrets of Manufacturing by the Brotherhood of the Customer of Tie
Books in English
Blog article written by Gérard Heunt for Eurotechni. © Copyright 2025 - Total or partial reproduction forbidden without authorization from Erutechni S.A.S
