We present to your attention a full-fledged video tutorial on how to make your own switchblade button knife. The simplest materials, such as plastic and so on, will not be used here, but you cannot call them difficult to access either. As a result, you will get a real professional switchblade knife that can be used in different conditions and with different materials.
Many modern knives are not of good quality and practicality. They are inconvenient to use, uncomfortable to hold in the hand, and so on. It is for this reason that we suggest making your own, so that it can serve you well and be practical in every way.
The video tutorial focuses on the following points:
- the handle of the knife should be in the palm of your hand (so that it fits comfortably in your hand, and not in two fingers);
- the blade is sharpened on one side (on the right - if right-handed, and vice versa);
- if possible, make notches on the base of the blade.
The entire manufacturing process is divided into several stages. First of all, a sketch of the future knife is made. This is necessary in order to understand how all its components interact with each other. Then, we start preparing the details. We transfer the sketch of the blade to steel and process it. The original form in the process may change. Immediately we sharpen the blade on one side.
After that, we grind the blade. We make a hole at its base. We process the edges in the form of a sketch.
Let's start creating the pen. We take a piece of titanium, measure the desired size according to the sketch and cut out a shape from it. We glue the two resulting halves and clamp them in clamps. We make indentations according to the marks made.
We adjust the handle to the blade. We make a hole in the handle at the same distance as the blade. After that, we cut out one more detail for the design of the knife.
We connect everything together and make several holes in all parts, except for the blade. We insert bronze bushings into two of them for attaching the lining.
With the help of rivets from nails, we connect all three resulting parts together and hammer them with a hammer.
We make an axis for the knife using a lathe, a diamond file and other tools. You will learn more about this in the video tutorial.
We make a retainer from an unnecessary flat nut. We drill a hole in it, we thread the wire so that we can conveniently harden the element. Quench over high heat.
We process the latch and insert it into the structure. Now, you need to cut out the spring for the latch. We connect the elements and fix. We take a spring from a car starter and attach it in the same way. The result is the following construction.
Before you cover the handle with overlays, in the previous step you can make teeth at the base of the blade. For overlays we take vinyl plastic 5 mm thick. We cut out two parts measured according to the sketch. We drill several incomplete holes in them. We adjust the parts to the shape of the knife, connect them together and process.
Flip knives have a lot of configurations and a different principle of operation. It is quite possible to make such a tool yourself. To do this, you will need to draw up a drawing of the product, for example, simply circling the outline from the finished knife. In addition, you will need the necessary material and appropriate equipment, as well as elementary work skills.
Preparatory stage
To make an automatic folding knife on your own, you need to take a strip of metal, transfer a sketch of the intended product to it. Then, using emery or a special machine, you will need to process the future blade.
If there is no suitable device, then it is not even worth starting the manufacture of rather complex products. Alternatively, you can use or for finishing. In addition, old ones are sometimes used as a point.
After processing the blade and giving it the necessary shape, the part is clamped in a yew and grinding begins. Initially, a rough finish is made with a diamond file, then finishing is performed using a fine-grained bar. The excess part of the metal is sawn off, a hole is drilled in the center in the prepared part, the end of the product is also processed with emery.
We continue to make a switchblade knife with our own hands
The next step is to make the handle. A thin titanium plate is quite suitable for this operation. Using an electric tool, cut a rectangular blank of the desired size. It should be borne in mind that titanium is a viscous material; when sawing, it is necessary to lubricate the treated areas with oil.
After preparing a couple of elements, we serve them on an emery machine. The ends of the blanks are brought to the same state by finishing with a file. Then we put the blade on the handle and clamp it with a clamp. Both halves of the handle are drilled through the central "window" of the tip.
You will also need to make a steel spring, which is processed according to the sketch. It is necessary to chamfer the outer side of the holes, punch sockets for the button and the locking mechanism. After drilling the desired holes, they are processed with a needle file to the required size. Bronze or brass bushings can be used as lining clamps. They are placed in the side plates and riveted from the inside.
Assembly
Homemade switchblade knives at this stage acquire the desired shape and appearance. From nails or a suitable wire, elements for rivets are cut. After their installation, it is necessary to grind off the edges to get a uniform surface.
Then with the help of a rectangular hole is made in the blade, an axis is made using a lathe. Alternatively, you can do it with a file, but this process will be much longer in time. The latch and the working part are adjusted to each other by cutting out rectangular sockets. The fixing element of the U-shaped configuration is inserted into the handle of the product.
The spring cut from steel is fastened with a bolt. If the whole procedure is performed correctly, when you press the latch, the spring will act as a pusher. As this element, you can use a similar spare part from a car starter. At the end of the process, the fixture is polished with a special paste to a mirror finish.
Final part
When making a switchblade knife with your own hands, you should take care of high-quality overlays. They are made of titanium, connected to each other and to the blade by means of grooves and rivets, bringing them to a “marketable” appearance by finishing with a file. The blade and axis are inserted, the working spring is cocked, the button is mounted, the linings are connected, which are screwed in with bolts. We can assume that the automatic switch-blade knife is ready.
This guide is for guidance only. By interpreting it according to the available materials and imagination, any craftsman will be able to make a thing that is completely different from analogues, which will rightfully be considered exclusive.
Peculiarities
If you decide to make a switchblade knife with your own hands for the first time, try making a simple sample first. As an example, a straight razor product is suitable. Such an instance is created from improvised materials, does not require special qualifications, has a minimum of details. But the finished product will look good on a par with store counterparts, having all the necessary functionality.
Before starting work, you need to cut out blade and handle templates from cardboard or plywood. This will allow you to focus on the intended final sample. This is followed by the adjustment of all dimensions of the homemade blade. It will fit comfortably in your hand and will be cheap in terms of cost. Regardless of what kind of knife you plan to make: a folding frontal, folding or regular knife, you can use durable fabric, wood, horn or tree fungus to decorate the handle.
What to look out for
If you decide to make a switchblade knife yourself, finding a decent material, especially a locking mechanism, can bring certain difficulties. For real masters, this problem goes by the wayside, but beginners will have to work hard. Alternatively, you can use a similar design from another product that has a working mechanism, but has lost its functionality or relevance.
Preparation of a sketch, design, cutting out a handle will not be particularly difficult. The blade, with the right approach, can also be carved quite quickly. The main working part in the form of a reliable locking and ejection mechanism can require the lion's share of the time spent on making a homemade cutting tool.
Flip-out front ejection knives
A product of this type has a more original principle of operation. The tip is thrown out along the handle. Although this option is considered practical and effective, a more complex design often leads to breakdowns.
To remove this practically the only drawback, it is necessary to carefully and reasonably approach the choice of product. In the case of self-manufacturing, you should choose practical and reliable components that are designed for a long service life.
ostrij 31-08-2011 21:44
Good evening Gentlemen and Ladies, thrill-seekers!
Could someone send me drawings of a switchblade knife to my email (or better, several, to choose from). It is desirable that the blade is thrown out directly, and the one that is to the side. I've been trying to find it on the Internet for a week now - it's useless (((You are my last hope)
my email: [email protected]
thanks in advance, regards Vadim
sergeant 31-08-2011 22:10
But does Zarathustra not allow you to buy 2 Chinese abominations on the market and remove the drawing?
ostrij 31-08-2011 23:07
Why is it hard to send a drawing?
Basil_84 31-08-2011 23:13
quote: Why is it hard to send a drawing?
And if it’s not freely available, then it’s not at all or they just don’t want to share it like that ...
So I would do as the Sergeant advises. At the same time and you will understand what's what.
Basil_84 31-08-2011 23:51
What, right? Is it prohibited by law?
ostrij 31-08-2011 23:53
Schniperson 31-08-2011 23:55
You need to at least look at the Beltrame miscarriage. The spring and lock are not like those that are on the Chinese.
Basil_84 31-08-2011 23:58
And what for it then.... Although it's up to you.
ikar"eff 01-09-2011 08:49
Here is the simplest, IMHO, option:
Miscarriage with lateral ejection (like most ketai).
Frontal ejection for the first time will be too difficult. Yes, and for the second one too ;-)
It was the drawings that I personally did not meet at all. However, for a single production "on the knee" they are not particularly needed: a sketch with approximate dimensions is enough, the parts are still fitted in place.
kalmuik 01-09-2011 12:32
Usually I try to help people, but in the case when a person does not respect others (or is afraid) so much that he refuses to even name the country of residence (Europe is not a country), I have to refuse to help
ostrij 01-09-2011 19:04
Thanks to those who sent pictures!
I would like to take a look at the detailed drawing (especially the one with frontal ejection), since I want to make a knife not on the "knee", but on the machines.
suhai123 01-09-2011 20:53
dialectical contradiction. It is prohibited by law but on machines
ostrij 01-09-2011 21:06
well, no one knows what I'm doing there))) detail by detail ...)
Zuzamod 01-09-2011 21:38
Well, write a request to manufacturers, for example http://www.microtechknives.com/index.html There is a 0.0001% chance that they will answer, and not just send.
paradox2010 01-09-2011 22:19
You can pay attention to the zonovskie vykiduhi, tomorrow I'll post pictures. The design is simple, especially when there is a machine park
ostrij 01-09-2011 23:33
quote: Originally posted by paradox2010:
You can pay attention to the zonovskie vykiduhi, tomorrow I'll post pictures. The design is simple, especially when there is a machine park
Many thanks)
ostrij 02-09-2011 16:54
Schniperson 02-09-2011 17:28
quote: Originally posted by ostrij:
do the masters present have no drawings of a miscarriage?
"Present masters" post reports in which they say that they have suffered, inventing and running the design. With what fright should they spread it?
ostrij 02-09-2011 17:46
quote: Originally posted by Schneeperson:
"Present masters" post reports in which they say that they have suffered, inventing and running the design. With what fright should they spread it?
nobody here owes anything to anyone. there was a request from my side. whoever wants to, helps. And making a secret from a Wikiduhi drawing is not entirely smart, because this is not a nuclear missile, after all) Santjago 03-09-2011 22:01
It is the drawings that I have not yet come across in the open spaces either ... If you have the desire and small skills, you can make a photo. The main thing that it was - desire. So do not expect much that everything will be laid out on a silver platter, with tolerances and landings.
In the modern age, there are many devices that make life easier for a person. One of the most useful and versatile designs is considered to be a switchblade knife. The first ancestors of the model were invented in primitive times. Over time, the device has changed a lot and has become more practical and convenient. This device is truly multifunctional and allows you to perform a wide variety of everyday tasks.
History of occurrence
Automatic switchblades appeared a long time ago, but they gained their popularity relatively recently. Huge demand was born thanks to the invention of Ron Miller. It was he who created the first improved design in 1987.
The model had a high-quality modified spring mechanism. Similar copies were actively used in special units of the army. Although Miller did the main work, the modern automatic knife would not have such an attractive appearance if it were not for Charles Oke. It was he who designed the device.
Varieties of models
All models of automatic folding knives are brought to a ready state thanks to a special button. When pressed, it acts on the spring mechanism, due to which the blade is ejected. There are several types of automatic knives:
- frontal model (the blade in this design will be thrown vertically);
- knife with the principle of lateral extraction of the blade.
A side throw knife is often referred to as a push-button knife. In this design, the blade is ejected in a circle, and its center is located in the axial screw. The opening is due to a flexible spring. Frontal models are more original, many knife lovers really like that the blade is displayed along the handle.
It is frontalkas that are the most common models of retractable knives. They are very practical and comfortable. The only disadvantage of such products is a complex mechanism that can often fail. If you approach the choice of fixture with all responsibility and purchase a high-quality model made of high-strength steel, the product will last a long time and work properly.
Selection principles
To choose a good folding knife, you need to carefully approach the study of the range. It is not difficult to purchase a suitable model, the model range of devices is very wide. When buying, you should pay attention to the following factors:
- The material from which the model is made.
- Product type.
- View of the castle.
- Manufacturing company.
- Design parameters (it is worth considering the size, for example, if the owner plans to carry the product with him every day, a knife that is too long may not suit him. In this case, it is better to choose a small compact unit).
The device must be made of durable and very resistant materials, otherwise the device may soon need to be repaired or even have to be returned. The best blade solution is stainless steel. The handle can be made of real natural wood, metal or durable plastic. In addition to the fact that miscarriages differ greatly in technical parameters, they also have a different purpose. There are the following types of products according to the purpose of application:
- Tourist.
- Tactical.
- Military.
- Hunting.
- Knives for self defense.
Do not forget that there are certain standards that must be followed when choosing a product. A knife with a blade exceeding 90 mm is considered a cold weapon and carrying it without permission is a criminal offense.
In fairness, it should be noted that edged weapons are not for sale in the public domain. Most knives that can be found on store shelves have a special certificate indicating that the product being purchased is not prohibited by law.
It is not enough just to buy a good and high-quality knife, you need to carefully look after it. Care includes regular sharpening, cleaning and treatment with special solutions. By following these simple rules, you can significantly extend the life of the product.
Offers from European manufacturers
Before you please yourself with a new acquisition, you should familiarize yourself with the rating of the best and most popular flick models. These products are distinguished by the highest build quality and long service life.
The top best devices in the world rightfully include:
Products from Russia
Patriots prefer to choose Russian-made automatic knives. Unfortunately, there are not so many of them, but it is quite possible to choose a model.
You can pay attention to the following devices:
DIY device
Handmade switchblade knives deserve a separate discussion. To assemble a homemade unit, you do not need to have golden hands. It is enough to familiarize yourself with a simple scheme. The manufacturing process is as follows:
Step 1. Start. First of all, you need to come up with a blade design for the future knife. There is nothing difficult here, there should be 2 grooves on the blade. Thanks to their presence, the blade will be securely kept closed and fixed in the open state. The desired shape must first be drawn on paper, and then carefully cut out.
The resulting template must be evenly applied to the steel and circled around the contour with a marker. For work, it is necessary to choose only that steel that contains a sufficient amount of carbon, otherwise it simply cannot be hardened. After tracing, you can start cutting out the blade. To do this, you need to firmly clamp the workpiece in a vice and work hard with a grinder. If you have a band saw, the process will be much faster.
Next, the blade is processed on a belt grinder and given it an ideal shape. After that, you need to carve two grooves. First, they are cut out with a grinder, and then finished with a flat file. The main thing is not to forget to drill a hole in the blade, into which the axis will then be placed.
Step 2. Making a lever for fixing. The locking lever must also be made of resistant steel, since this part can wear out very much during long use. The lever is needed in order to fix the blade in the open and closed position. For manufacturing, the profile is applied to the metal, marked and cut out. Refinement is done with a file and a hand saw. After that, you need to make a hole for the axle.
Step 3. Final grinding of the blade. Bevels should be made on the blade. This is an extremely responsible job. It is best to perform this procedure on a belt sander. Everything must be symmetrical. At this stage of the process, do not sharpen the product too much.
Step 4 Create a pen. You can make a handle out of sheet aluminum and glue a couple more layers to the inside. One of them will be textolite, and plastic can be useful for the outer area. Thanks to these layers, the friction force will be less, and the product will open well.
Using a template, you must carefully cut out both parts of the handle, in addition, you will need to cut two more of the same parts from the textolite. The parts are glued together with epoxy glue. When everything is ready, you need to glue them to the final layer. At the end, the parts should be sanded on a grinding machine.
Step 5. Completion of the preparation of parts. It is necessary to make a hole in the handle and cut the thread. In addition, the locking lever should be bent at a slight angle. To do this, it can be heated red-hot with a burner, and then bent. Now you should proceed to the installation of the spring mechanism. Thanks to the spring, the blade will be thrown out of the handle.
This part is placed on the axis on which the blade is held. Under it, in a layer of textolite, it is necessary to make a seat. First, holes are drilled, and then the work is completed with a sawing machine with a nozzle. To fix the spring mechanism, you need to make 2 holes - one in the blade, the other in the handle. All you need to do after that is to put the pen. To do this, weld a bolt to the lever, and then cut off the excess parts. A groove must be cut in the handle.
There should also be a spring supporting the lever in the handle. To install it, you need to grind and put an emphasis. The stop is attached with pins, which can be used as standard nails.
Step 6. Hardening of steel. Thanks to hardening, the knife will remain sharp for a long time. The hardening temperature for steel is 1071 degrees. A suitable temperature can be externally determined by the appearance of a yellow glow. In addition, the temperature can be checked with a magnet. He does not magnetize to steel, which means that everything is done correctly. The blade must be cooled in vegetable oil. The lever also does not hurt to harden. The procedure for heating the metal occurs through a special furnace and burner.
When hardening, you can not do without tempering the metal, without which it will not be sufficiently resistant. To make a vacation, you need the most ordinary kitchen oven. It needs to be heated to 200-300 degrees and put a blade there for an hour. After that, you should turn off the oven and leave the blade in it until it cools down. The higher the temperature, the more the metal will sink. Next, you need to check the metal with a file. If there is not a single trace left on the surface, then everything went fine.
Step 7 Assembly Before assembling the parts, you need to grind the blade, because it will remain dirty and all sorts of traces of scale after hardening. The blade can be polished. At this stage, you can also sharpen the blade, and then seal it with paper and tape to avoid accidental cuts.
After that, it's time to start assembling. You need to put the spring, and then the lever and blade. Steel parts are best lubricated so that they do not corrode. The product is assembled on screws, grooves must be drilled under their heads to avoid bulging. Next is the final polishing. First, the handle is worked out on a belt sander, and then manually with sandpaper. That's all. The knife is ready.
Modern switchblade knives are very convenient and practical. These devices can be used for a variety of purposes. Choosing the right device is not difficult. In addition, you can make it yourself.
The first folding knives appeared before our era. The oldest finds date back to 600-500 BC. They were found during excavations of ancient Roman cities. It is possible that they were invented in ancient Greece, but since the knives were used until they were completely “worked out”, only a few copies of Roman folding knives have come down to us.
In the sixteenth century, Navaja knives appeared in Spain using a folding mechanism. Their popularity increased in connection with the adoption of a law prohibiting the possession of weapons by persons of ignoble origin. The size of the Navaja in the unfolded state reached 45 centimeters, so it was quite a serious weapon.
Between 1650 and 1700, folding knives became widespread among the peasants of Western Europe. So-called "penny knives" appeared, which were of very low quality. They also produced piece products from the best steel and careful manual assembly of the assembly. Naturally, a high-quality folding knife at that time was a rarity, accessible to few. The well-known French knives of the Opinel brand trace their genealogy just from this elite group.
During the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), folding knives acquired a fixed blade made of good quality steel. A spring mechanism began to be used everywhere, various rings and structures in the form of shutters appeared.
In addition to this classification, the best folding knives differ in blade fixation mechanisms:
- Liner lock - the most popular system, which is a metal plate that locks the blade in the open state;
- Axis lock is a more reliable system, in which a spring-loaded peg plays the role of a latch;
- Virolock is the simplest system used on Opinel knives. It is a regular ring with a slot for folding the blade. If the ring is turned, the blade is fixed in the open position.
There are still many different systems for fixing the blade, but they are much less common.
Should you buy switchblade knives?
If you examine the rating of folding knives, then automatic knives will confidently take a leading position. It’s hard to imagine a street hooligan without a switchblade, although he usually only has a stupid Chinese fake. A high-quality switchblade knife is expensive and will always be inferior to its non-automatic counterparts in reliability.
The retractable automatic knife is always activated by pressing the button. The button actuates the spring, which ejects the blade, fixing it. Such knives are the most spectacular, as the blade appears in a split second with a characteristic click. Switchblade knives come in two types, each with a different blade ejection pattern:
- Switchblade knife with vertical ejection of the blade;
- Flip-out knife of frontal release.
The first category includes inexpensive automatic knives, since the vertical blade ejection system is easier to implement (by the way, unnamed Chinese automatic knives also belong to this group). A switchblade knife with a frontal ejection is a more technically complex system, even Chinese copies cost from 3 thousand.
Some fans of quality folding knives order handmade switchblades. As a rule, these are deep revisions of serial models, with the complete replacement of all buttons and springs with better ones.
Folding knives of the USSR
The industry of the USSR produced many folding knives for hunters, travelers, gardeners and summer residents. As a rule, these were the same type of models, differing only in the number of tools. It is worth noting that the knives of the 60s and 70s were of better quality than the knives produced in subsequent years. In the 90s, with the advent of better quality foreign knives, the popularity of Soviet knives gradually faded away.
The most famous knife of the USSR is "Squirrel". This knife was the dream of all the boys of that era. Among the monotony of knife products, it was Belka that stood out favorably with its design. These knives are distinguished by their unpretentiousness and reliability.
The best models of folding knives
The most popular folding knife in the world is the Ontario RAT. This model is considered a survival knife, although it gained its popularity as a knife for every day. The popularity of this device lies in the attractive price-quality ratio. For less than 3 thousand rubles, the buyer receives an excellent cutting blade with descents from the butt. This knife has become the best-selling folding knife in the world.
The Victorinox Classic keychain knife is the most popular knife in the Victorinox line and one of the most popular knives in the world. Mainly used for nail care. Small scissors and a nail file, despite their miniature size, work flawlessly. Swiss quality, as they say, obliges.
Knife Opinel No. 8 is the bearer of the traditions of the first European knives. Despite the outdated appearance, it has an amazing cut. It can be used in the kitchen, where its wooden handle fits perfectly into any interior. Recommended for lovers of knife classics.
DIY folding knife
Making a folding knife with your own hands is a rather difficult task. To solve it, you will definitely need a drawing. The process of creating a blade is no different from making a blade for a fixed knife, there will be no problems with the handle either, but assembling the locking mechanism will require jewelry precision.
There is one secret that masters usually do not disclose. To make a flawlessly working author's folding knife, a high-quality Chinese donor is taken with the necessary fixation system for 1200 rubles. It is completely disassembled, the springs are changed, the blade is made of powdered steel, the original material is placed on the lining and the author's knife is ready! In it, no one will even suspect a former Chinese model.
How to care for a folding knife
A folding knife needs more frequent care and maintenance than a fixed blade knife. In case of inaccurate operation, the mechanism becomes clogged with dirt, which can lead to jamming. The mechanisms of multifunctional knives are especially often clogged. A dirty folding knife must be disassembled, thoroughly cleaned of dirt, oiled and reassembled. With timely maintenance, a folding knife will serve you for many years.
