Home Forums Gear Knives and Blades Are mill files a good piece of steel to build on?

Asking 'cause a friend in the ski industry was passing through on his way back East from the FIS alpine ski racing championships at Beaver Creek, CO, and he left me a gift of 60+/- Swedish Oberg and Finnish Viiala 8", 10", and 12" files that ski techs used to sharpen the steel edges of alpine skis. About 1/3 are new and the rest used, but not much as they appear to have been well maintained. The Oberg files have an integral handle, rather than a sharp point to attach a wood handle, and look like they might work as the basis for a knife.

Do any of you build knives from files and, if so, what are the challenges?

Contact Dan Thompson,,,, he makes some fantastic knives from old files.




http://www.dtknives.com/Information.html

Obergs are good files. A respected name. Never heard of the Finnish brand.....

Those DT Knives look interesting to me. I have a box full of my Dad's old files, all Nicholson. He made his living with them installing Formica counters back in the day. Since he retired in 1981, I'm sure they're all made in the USA files, and it would mean a lot to me to turn one of his old files into a knife. I'm going to contact DT Knives and see what we can come up with. Thanks for the tip!

thanks for the hit Walt501. I'd almost forgotten how good that knife looked FieldGrade. The brass liners and Amboyna wood

Dan is the Master at it, and what a awesome dude to deal with and talk to a real gifted man at his trade, i have purchased several from him and all keepsakes he puts his heart and soul into his knives and leather sheaths.

this one is still my favorite