strange question....

[patterdalejoel 669]

i found an old bread/carving knife (without serrated edge). it is covered in a bit of surface rust and has a cracked old square type of old plastic handle on it. it is made in sheffeild a long time ago and it keeps an edge very well and gets deadly sharp. it may sound a bit mental but i would quite like to cut it down into a useable hunting/ skinnin knife and re handle it, i quite like the idea of recycling it, it is made properly out of good quality metal and seems a shame to chuck it away.

 

how would i go about this? would i need to get someone with a grinder to cut it down? how would i remove the rust? can it be done? i know it sounds silly but i think it would be quite interesting to do.

cheers.

[Tyla 3,179]

Yes, it can be done but how you do it depends how good you want it to be when finished. Nearly anything that can be done with power tools can also be done with hand tools, its just alot slower! Old steel is the best IMO, im a chippy and dont think the modern chisels are a patch on a good quality old one.

[halamrose 24]

Sounds like you have nothing to loose by having a go. The steel will be quite hard and will have to be ground rather than sawn. Don't let it get too hot or it will loose it's hardness then not keep an edge. I'd try and keep the edge that's sharp and cut the back and end off but that restricts the shapes you can do.

[moxy 617]

I wouldn't grind it down into shape but cut it as to not work harden or temper the steel.

Surface rust can be removed and polished out but pitting may still remain.

If you have a 4" grinder I can let you have some thin slitting disks to cut it down. If not you can get your arse up to mine and I can cut it for you.