Hand Engraving a Knife Blade

Tools/Materials

 

Black and green polishing compounds

Compasses

Drill press

Knife blank

Painters Tape

Pencil

Polishing wheels

Poster Board

Rotary Tool

Round diamond burr rotary tool bit

Utility Knife

 

I never tried this before so wish me luck. It either works or I spent a lot of time cutting out a knife and will ruin it. First I gathered up some poster board, a pencil, a utility knife, painters tape and a set of compasses.

First. I outlined  the knife blade on a piece of poster board.  Then using a utility knife partially cut the outline of the knife. 

Second, I followed the outline of the knife with the needle point allowing the lead to mark on the inside of outline. I used the compasses opened about a 1/4".

Third I finished  cutting out the outline of the knife and then cut out the middle section using the utility knife.  This gives you a stencil to follow to engrave the knife blade

Forth, I taped the stencil to the blade so it cannot move.

Fifth, using the rotary tool set at a slow speed and  1/8" diamond burr bit, engrave the open area using the stencil as the guide.

 

Once satisfied remove the stencil and re-polish the blade using black and green polishing compounds and you are finished. I used my drill press with polishing wheels to do this.

 

I don't think it turned out to bad.  The knife has an overall length of 11" with a 6 3/4" blade.  It is made from 1/8" industrial hardened steel from a 17 1/2" saw mill blade.  The handle is made from oak burl salvaged from a wooden pallet with brass pins.  The handle was sanded to 800 grit and treated with a 4:1 mixture of mineral oil and bees wax.