First steps - forging knives

[General Zod]

So Harbor Freight???

I'd have probably wound up with better files.

I got the triangular file out of the package of "hardened steel" files and discovered it had a nasty burr on the tang where it had been cut to length. I took an older file and easily filed the burr off as if it was mild steel.

Which I suspect these crappy Chinesium files probably are.

 

[Eastexasrick]

Nicholson was acquired by Cooper Group in 1972, merged with Cresent, then acquired by Apex Tools. I hope they are still US made but its now a crap shoot. Some of the most iconic names in tools are now part of Apex :

• Allen – Hex keys
• Armstrong Tools – Industrial hand tools
• Atkins – Hacksaws
• Belzer – Mechanic's hand tools
• Campbell – Manufactures chains and clamps.
• Caulkmaster – Pneumatic dispensing guns.
• Collins – Machetes, shovels, and axes
• Crescent – general hand tools and tool sets. Acquired by Cooper in 1968.
• Delta – tool boxes
• Erem – Precision pliers.
• GearWrench – Ratcheting wrenches and hand tools
• H.K. Porter – Bolt and cable cutters.
• Iseli – Precision matched parts
• Jacob's Chuck – drill chucks
• JOBOX – truck boxes and site storage
• K-D Tools – mechanic's hand and specialty tools
• K&F – files and rasps
• Kahnetics – Dispensing systems.
• Lufkin – Manufactures measuring tools Lufkin was Cooper's first hand tool acquisition in 1967.
• Mayle – Mechanic's hand tools
• Nicholson – files, rasps, and saws. Acquired by Cooper in 1972.
• Plumb – Striking tools, such as hammers, axes, and chisels. Acquired by Cooper in 1980.
• SATA – Mechanic's hand tools.
• Spline Gauges – gauges
• Weller – Soldering tools. Acquired by Cooper in 1970.
• Wire-wrap – Electrical connection equipment.
• Wiss – Scissors and snips. Acquired by Cooper in 1976.
• Xcelite

 

[paknheat]

I got my files from either Brownells or from a machine shop supply place like Enco.

These places can be a bit more pricey but you can still find American or Swiss made files there and they cut like a sumbitch.


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[Hoji]

The trick is finding anyone who freaking sells more than one or two kinds of cheap-ass files. Guess I'll buy off Amazon from now on.

Flea markets full of old tools. Craigslist will often have old rusty files as well.