Sword Wolf Forge

06/02/2026

Bladesmithing 101 (Episode 9): Handle Scales and Contouring

Want to know the secret to a razor-sharp edge without buying expensive gadgets? It all comes down to consistency. In this clip, Andy from Sword Wolf Forge demonstrates his simple "thumb method" to lock in the perfect angle while sharpening on diamond stones. Forget the fancy tools—building muscle memory and feeling for the burr are all you need to get a great edge! This is just a quick glimpse at the final step of our knife build. Check out the full Bladesmithing 101 finale on the channel to see the entire process, from setting the initial bevel on the belt grinder all the way to the final stropping. Stay sharp everybody!

Full Series Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfrs5z4_FwGdNWBUqZnQ1Ei4di-kgzLyN

Sword Wolf Forge Website: swfknives.com

Video Services provided by WebCraft : vvebcraft.com

06/02/2026

06/02/2026

Welcome to the final episode of our Bladesmithing 101 series at Sword Wolf Forge! Today is the big day where we finally finish our knife by putting a razor-sharp edge on it.

I have wasted more money trying to figure out how to sharpen than any other area of knife making, often falling for gadgets that scratch the blade or give inconsistent angles. Instead, I am going to show you how I sharpen in my shop using the old-fashioned way.

In this video, we begin by setting the initial bevels using a belt grinder running in reverse at a low speed. We then refine the edge through a stone progression, starting with a DMT extra coarse diamond stone and eventually moving up to a Spyderco medium ceramic stone. Throughout this process, I demonstrate how to maintain a consistent angle using the thumb method to build muscle memory. I also explain how to feel for the burr so you know exactly when to progress to the next grit. Finally, we finish the edge by stropping on leather with compound to polish it to perfection.

It has been a massive journey from drawing our design on paper to holding this completed knife. If you have been following along and making your own knife, I would love to see pictures! You can send them to the Sword Wolf Forge page. You can also check out pictures of this completed knife on my website at www.swfknives.com.

Please like, share, and subscribe so I can start doing more stuff, and let me know in the comments what you want to see next—maybe a series on making pattern welded steel or Damascus! Thank you for sharing your time with me, and stay sharp everybody.

Product Links

DMT 8" Dia-Sharp Diamond Stone
https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/collections/diamond-stones/products/dmt-8-dia-sharp-diamond-stone

Naniwa Natural Leather Strop
https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/collections/strops/products/naniwa-natural-leather-strop

Green Honing Compound
https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/collections/strops/products/green-honing-compound

Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish
https://a.co/d/0iK8wFUK

Spyderco Bench Stone
https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/collections/ceramic-stones/products/spyderco-bench-stone-medium

Full Series Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfrs5z4_FwGdNWBUqZnQ1Ei4di-kgzLyN
Sword Wolf Forge Website: swfknives.com

Video Services provided by WebCraft : vvebcraft.com

05/14/2026

Bladesmithing 101 (Episode 8): Handle Scales and Contouring

Want to avoid ruining your blade's finish when putting on handle scales? Here is a crucial tip from Episode 8 of Bladesmithing 101. Always profile and clean up the front edge of your scales before you glue them to the tang. If you wait until they are attached to the knife to shape that area, you will end up scratching that beautiful hand-sanded finish you just worked so hard on. Check out the full video on the Sword Wolf Forge channel for more handle-shaping tricks, from drilling pins to the final tung oil finish!

Full Series Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfrs5z4_FwGdNWBUqZnQ1Ei4di-kgzLyN

Sword Wolf Forge Website: swfknives.com
Video Services provided by WebCraft : vvebcraft.com

05/14/2026

Bladesmithing 101 (Episode 8): Handle Scales and Contouring

Welcome back to Sword Wolf Forge for Episode 8 of our Bladesmithing 101 series! In this video, Andy walks you through the crucial process of attaching and shaping handle scales. To keep things simple and economical for beginners, we are working with beautiful walnut wood and 3/16-inch black G10 pins. The process starts by ensuring your blade and scales have perfectly flat mating surfaces using a piece of marble and 220-grit sandpaper.

Next, we dive into the safest method for drilling your pin holes one side at a time to guarantee everything aligns correctly. Andy shares tricks for chamfering your pins to prevent splitting the wood , along with why it is absolutely necessary to shape the front edge of the scales before attaching them to the knife. We also do a complete walkthrough of the epoxy process, explaining why beginners should opt for West Systems 24-hour epoxy instead of the fast-setting 5-minute version.

Once the epoxy is cured, we move over to the 2x72 belt grinder on a low speed to safely profile the handle , highlighting the importance of wearing a respirator. Andy demonstrates techniques for contouring the handle to fit your hand perfectly , transitioning from aggressive 45-degree angles to smooth, hand-sanded curves using 220 and 400-grit paper. Finally, we apply a protective finish using tung oil to bring out the natural grain of the walnut.

Next time, we wrap up the entire 101 series with the final step: sharpening your new blade!

Product Links
G/5 Epoxy: https://a.co/d/0cLWIvZX
F/flex Epoxy: https://a.co/d/06oaqlVF

Full Series Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfrs5z4_FwGdNWBUqZnQ1Ei4di-kgzLyN
Sword Wolf Forge Website: swfknives.com
Video Services provided by WebCraft : vvebcraft.com

05/13/2026

WebCraft

05/01/2026

Forging this blade for my ABS performance test. This blade will have to cut a free hanging 1 inch rope, cut two 2×4s in half, shave my arm and then bend in a vice 90 degrees without breaking for me to pass.

01/26/2026

Welcome back to Sword Wolf Forge. We are moving into the third part of our Bladesmithing 101 series, and today we are covering the single most important step that most beginners want to skip: The Planning Phase.

There is a saying we used in the military about proper planning preventing poor performance, and it applies perfectly to making knives. It is tempting to grab a piece of steel and start grinding away, but without a roadmap, you are setting yourself up for failure. In this video, we break down why you need to design your knife for a specific purpose rather than trying to make a fantasy "Rambo" knife on your first try.

We walk through the differences between full-tang and hidden-tang handles and why I recommend a full-tang for your first build. I also show you how to draw out your profile, measure the handle against your actual hand for ergonomics, and create a template that ensures your finished blade is actually usable.

This is about keeping it simple and building a solid foundation. If you follow this process, you will save yourself a lot of wasted steel and frustration later.

Connect with Sword Wolf Forge: www.swfknives.com

12/24/2025

Merry Christmas from Sword Wolf Forge

12/24/2025

Merry Christmas from Sword Wolf Forge!