Putty knife to patch knife

[ArmorerRoy]

Find an old wooden handle putty knife from who knows when. They are usually priced close to free. Make sure it has a wooden handle and is full tang. Grind away the blade to a knife profile without overheating it. Sharpen it. Add some linseed or true oil to the handle. Makes a razor sharp old looking knife in about 30 minutes.

The completed one was made by Red Devil. I'm not sure about the unfinished one, it's unmarked.

 

[Kansas Jake]

Great idea and job on your’s.

 

[Brokennock]

Seeing as the putty knife wasn't meant to hold an edge, does it have enough carbon for this application?

Just asking, not arguing.

If it does, great idea.

 

[Juice Jaws]

Very nice job, wondering like Brokennock how is the edge.

 

[DuncNZ]

Clever idea .

 

[ArmorerRoy]

I believe that it does have enough carbon and is also hard enough but I don't know the specs. Mine is razor sharp and holds its edge after carving wood and cutting cloth. The steel is very similar to an old saw blade.

I would expect that a modern Chinese made one might be unsuitable because they are stamped from sheet metal. These old US made ones are made from spring steel and are heat treated.

 

[Bnewberry]

Nice work! The few old putty knives I have handled act like a spring temper.They might not hold an edge as long as a harder tempered blade, but they have enough carbon to be hardened and get sharp. Easy to strop sharp as needed too.

 

[windini]

Great idea and your "new" knife looks great!

Is that a pewter ferrule~nosecap addition?

 

[ArmorerRoy]

It's aluminum I think. It was already there. I only reshaped the blade.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I once bought a whole bunch from a guy at ronny. For years I used them for blanket prizes and gifts. Finally my friends asked me to stop giving them as they had more than they could use. I might still have one or two. They do hold an edge OK.

 

[Sooty Scot]

Thank you for a good idea. I have a couple old ones, with damaged blades, already re-shaped from use.
(Just what I needed, another project; needed though.)

My favorite, antler crown & pewter handled, neck/patch knife had been sharpened past the harmon when I got it. Takes a good edge but can't hold it. Have to carry a small stone in my pouch to touch it up.

 

[Graybeard2A]

GREAT IDEA!! Now I'll be looking for them @ flee markets!

 

[Youngblood]

Yeah great idea.
I did the same thing with an old silver handled butter knife. Just a min on the grinder for a point and an edge.

 

[smo]

Here’s one I made in the mid 80’s from a 5 & 1 Painters scraper…
The one in the picture is a later version, it has a hollow plastic handle where the one I used had a solid plastic handle..,Both had good steel and would hold an edge long enough too skin a deer…

This one’s dressed a couple…

The scrapers were not as flexible as the putty knifes.

 

[user 48702]

Seeing as the putty knife wasn't meant to hold an edge, does it have enough carbon for this application?

Just asking, not arguing.

If it does, great idea.

48 to 58 Rockwell

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT SPECIFICATIONS BOARD SPECIFICATION FOR KNIVES AND SCRAPING GGG K 486 10 1931

 

[CyrusP]

That’s excellent! Great idea and great job!

 

[hawkeye2]

48 to 58 Rockwell

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT SPECIFICATIONS BOARD SPECIFICATION FOR KNIVES AND SCRAPING GGG K 486 10 1931

That's interesting but Government Specs apply to government branches and agencies seeking to purchase the items covered but not to items offered for sale to the public. I would suspect any well known brand would confirm to the specs though.

 

[user 48702]

True, but I don't believe that a U.S. manufacturer in 1931 would decide to buy a lesser grade blade material to sell to the general public. I have to go to our tool and die shop in the next week or two, and just for curiosities sake, I'll take a few old putty knives that's at least 50 years old, and a Red Devil that was bought within the past 5 years and see what the Rockwell hardness is.

 

[smo]

The 5&1 scrappers I used were Hyde brand from the mid 80’s…
They would get razor sharp..

 

[waarp8nt]

Years ago, my dad made a few knifes from worn down putty knifes. Here is one I found in his tackle box, a little worse for wear, but you get the idea.