Products Archives - Brown County Forge

DIY Knife Making - Terran Marks — *Made using our DIY Knife Making guide available below.

Brown County Forge’s Knife Making Kits Review

In general, kits are a fun way to start on a new hobby.

They are generally inexpensive and have easy-to-follow instructions.

Whether it’s beer-making or open fire cooking, many kits meet or exceed expectations.

One type of kit that has become pretty popular in recent years is the “knife making” kit.

One kit in particular seems to stand out above the rest:

Man Crates Knife Making Kit

In today’s post, I’m going to break down what’s bad and what’s good about Man Crates’ Kit (and other kits like it).

“Not Knife Making” – Customer Review on Man Crates’ website

If you go through the reviews on Man Crates Knife Making Kit, you will see a cascade of five stars.

Many customers had a great time putting handles on their knives.

BUT that’s really all it is.

The steel portion of the knife is already shaped, sharpened, and heat treated.

All you need to do to “make your knife” is attach your wood pieces and pins with epoxy and shape the handle.

From that review above:

“This isn’t a knife making kit, it’s simply a knife handle making kit. The blade comes already shaped and sharpened. Just not as cool.”

You should be the final judge of the quality and value of the kit, but at $149.99 it just doesn’t seem worth it (in this professional’s opinion).

Note: Their Folding Knife Kit seems to fair better in terms of Reviews. This could be due to the added skill involved in attaching the handle and dealing with the locking mechanism. Folders are more complicated than fixed blades.

Other Knife “Making” Kits

Jantz Supply in Oklahoma also offers knife making kits through their website: knifemaking.com.

Most of their kits range from $5.95 to $19.95 with a few rare exceptions over $100.

These are usually large specialty blades. Example: Their 13-inch long Carina Chef blade in V10 Damascus.

With that knife kit, you’re paying for the quality of the material more than anything.

But again, if you want to actually make your knife from start to finish, this is a Knife Handling Kit.

Nothing against Jantz Supply and their well-crafted products. They have been a leader in knifemaking education and supplies since the mid-1960s.

How to Make Legitimate Knives from Start to Finish

Making a Stock Removal Knife - Brown County Forge

In DIY Knife Making – Bushcraft Knives, we start by selecting our steel by carbon content. All information about where to find the right steel is provided.

Scandinavian Grind Bushcraft Knives - DIY Knife Making

Together, with step-by-step instructions, we go through how to cut, grind, shape, and sharpen a knife blank.

Bush Knife Tempering - DIY Knife Making

We’ll go over how to properly heat treat knives – Hardening AND Tempering.

Using a Rasp to Make a Knife Handle - DIY Knife Making

You’ll learn the necessary steps to make handle scales and attach them with an easy method.

DIY Knife Making - Terran Marks

And, if you’ve followed the guide from front to back, you will end up with a knife you made from start to finish.

Over the course of 108 pages, 60 Full-Color photos, multiple examples, and a printable knife template, you will gain the ability to truly make a knife (Not limited to bushcraft knives. Use this guide with any knife template.)

It’s available for 94% less than Man Crates’ Knife Making Kit. And you’ll have the added opportunity to find your own steel, your own wood, and make your own knife still for less than a kit.

Pick up your digital copy here:

DIY Knife Making – Bushcraft Knives

Want to Learn to Forge Knives, too?

I built an complete online course dedicated to blacksmithing and forging knives. (The DIY Knife Making book is included in the course.)

You can preview the curriculum here for free:

You’ll learn the fundamentals of blacksmithing and how to set up your own knife making shop in easy to follow video lessons.

Looking for a blacksmith starter kit with exactly what you need and nothing you don’t?

You’re in luck!

I talk about the basics of blacksmithing every week in class at Brown County Forge.

We go over skills and techniques, but spend real time talking about essential equipment. That’s what we’ll cover in this post and where to buy it.

For your own kit, you have two options:

Option 1: Have a professional blacksmith starter kit shipped directly to you. Pricing includes name brand equipment and material to get started.
Option 2: Go the DIY route and use the resources below to build your own.

OPTION 1: Have a Professional Kit Shipped to You

NC Tool Co Whisper Baby Forge - Starter Kit - Brown County Forge

The kit we provide includes:

Single or Double Burner Gas Forge – Single burner option pictured above.
70 lb. – 150 lb. Anvil – Happy to discuss pricing on sizes and different brands.
Cross Peen Blacksmith’s Hammer
Wolf Jaw Tongs
Access to Professional Blacksmiths for help with questions and tips.

Price: Kits start at $1395 – includes shipping to your door and access to professional smiths to help with any questions. Financing options available at Zero Interest for 6 months.

To get started with your custom kit order, please contact us directly at browncountyforge@gmail.com.

Option 2: The DIY Option

The equipment you need to get started blacksmithing comes down to 4 items:

Forge – How you heat the metal.
Anvil – Where you shape the metal.
Hammer – What you shape the metal with.
Tongs – How you hold the metal.

How Much Should a Kit Cost?

Let’s break down the items in the DIY blacksmith starter kit by price.

Forge – From $160.50 (free shipping) to $375 (plus shipping)

Blacksmith Starter Kit - Brown County Forge

Your forge will be one of the most expensive pieces to buy.

The forge I use is the Knifemaker Economy forge by Majestic Forge (seen above).

It costs $375 (the price recently went up $50) and ships for around $50 depending on how far you live from Sugar Grove, Ohio.

Why I like it:

Two burners – It gets up to heat quickly.
Compact – It doesn’t take up a lot of space.
Easy to set up – Takes about 10 minutes right out of the package.
Ships fast – I ordered it on a Tuesday and had it 2-3 days later.

A second, less expensive option is this Double Burner from Laredo Blacksmiths:

2 Burners
$160.50 (price recently reduced by $23) with Free U.S. shipping
Compact size for easy setup and storage.
See more details, testimonials, and reviews on eBay
As an eBay Partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase through the above link.

Anvil – $345 – $450+ (varies by retailer)

Hammer and Anvils - Brown County Forge

The anvil I use in the shop is a 70 pound NC Tool Company brand anvil.

I own two of them and they’re each responsible for thousands of projects.

Why I like them:

Movable – You can move one of them on your own. No need to call a friend.
Inexpensive – At under $350 or $5 per pound, it’s a great deal.
Durable – Mine have seen heavy student use over the years.

Hammer – $28 – $35

Your hammer really doesn’t need to cost a whole lot.

If you find a hammer that weighs between 2 and 3 pounds at a flea market or yard sale for a dollar, buy it.

Your main concern is overall weight and then handle length preference.

For my money, and the hammer I use every day, I go with a 2.5-pound Vaughan Cross Peen. I bought the one you see above on Amazon for $28 in 2011. (Find here on Amazon). As an Amazon partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase through the above link.

I could lose all of my other equipment, but if I lost that hammer I’d be very sad.

Tongs – $40.50

I use Centaur Forge’s 3/8-inch V-Bit Bolt Tongs nearly every day.

They’re good all around tongs useful for flat stock, square bar, and round bar.

Total Kit Cost (before shipping): $574 – $984.94

Where to Buy Each Item

Your Laredo Blacksmiths forge can be securely purchased on eBay through the photo and link above.

For the Majestic Forge double burner forge I use, go to: majesticforge.com.

Your anvil should be purchased from Centaur Forge to get the best price on shipping – centaurforge.com. Also available on Amazon here. (As an Amazon partner, I may be compensated if you make a purchase through this link.)

The hammer can be picked up on Amazon.

Your tongs will come straight from Centaur Forge as well – centaurforge.com.

Want to Learn How to Use It All?

I teach classes in person at Brown County Forge and online through Blacksmith Homeschool.

I’m also happy to answer any questions you might have: browncountyforge@gmail.com

Cheers!

Terran Marks – owner, Brown County Forge