How to Make a Folding Knife with Basic Tools 

Hey John. I just wanted to say thank you for putting this video up. It has provided vital insight into the creation of my own folding knife designs.

Your videos have a weird Bob Ross vibe to them.... I like it

I don’t know why but I come back to this video every few years cause it’s just a nice video to watch. Aesthetically pleasing knife and satisfying video. 11/10

Beautiful! My 5 year old son was watching with me and he was fascinated.

Wow, that end result is amazing!

Awesome knife, and I really liked the filming with minimal dark backgrounds, very cool.

John this is crazy! You are a man with much talent my friend! All I kept thinking about while watching this is how many other channels out there have their free sponsored CNC machine and would have just cut it out with that. I appreciate your efforts, thanks for making this!

never considered making a folding knife really, but this video makes me want to try. Gotta get those plans.

Thank you for the video. I've made fixed blade knives, but you've inspired me to jump into a lockback. I even have some wide aluminum angle iron I previously had no use for.

Thanks for this! I have a Japanese stainless blade with staghorn scales folder that I inherited from an old friend who passed away some time ago. I took it apart a few years ago, with the idea of rebuilding so it will spring open at the touch of a button, but haven't yet found the time to conduct that experiment. I only rebuilt it tonight because I've been wanting to use it as an EDC. While rebuilding it, I had to replace the brass pins and wanted to get some input on the best way to go about that and bumped into this video. Well, now I have TWO knife projects to do now LOL. I happen to have a bent aluminum bicycle pedal crank that was left over from a replacement I did for a friend and have been saving it for a rainy day - I think anodizing it black would be cool - but also something I'd need to research on how to do. I think it will make a great basis for the knife scales in your build. I also have part of a saw blade that was already cut up for another project - so I'm set to go!Thanks for the video and the template uploads!

I wish that I could give this more than one thumbs-up! A gorgeous result from starting with junk material.

I'm 13 and I like building anything I can and watching your videos give me the best ideas thank you keep up the good work you will make it to 1 mill I know it

Awesome video, awesome timing on the voice over bits, awesome lights in the video, awesome knife, awesome ending shots. Verdict: your best video yet. Very classy.

Love your work and your videos John. You always make me laugh. You're a good teacher, craftsman and artist. Thanks. Fred from San Diego, CA

polished Aluminium looks so nice!

Looks great! Talk about an exercise in patience!

When I watched your wooden folding knife video I really wanted to make a metal one myself, thanks for making this, it looks great!

COOLNESS !!! The look of this knife rocks! I'm diggn the mirror finish u added.

I know it's 7 years old, but this is the ONLY video I've found that PROPERLY walks me through making a locking knife! Do you know how many videos i've looked through that are just "Here. Watch me make this knife with obnoxious music," or completely skip the part about making the spring? Thank you sir for giving me a video guide I can actually follow.

really really nice knife, this and the concrete/shovel knife are definitely my favorites!

Very laconic and accurate design. Thank you John

If my shop was heated , I'd be out there now. Very nice vid and knife. thx

I liked that you used an old tap as a centre punch. That's an old machinist trick! I do that all the time in the shop.

Excellent knife and fantastic commentary it looks beautiful once you shined it.

Thank you sir, awesome video, keep doing what you do ! and thanks for the free template !!! ...Cheers from Montréal, Canada !

very nice, everyone makes sheath knives so it's nice to see someone making their own folding knife, good job.

Wow very patient with the working of sanding and filing, great video :)

Very pretty knife. The video was dark and artsy. Nice to see you try out different styles.

Oh wow I love the videography in this one!!! And the knife is the TOP!

Just a helpful tip....I like to drill holes in small pieces such as this before cutting and filing to final size. Makes the drilling go a lot easier.

well done for not doing too much narration. excellent vids

i like the clean look of the knife end the narration was just right thumps up👍😋

very cool project. I have never attempted anything like this, but you have peaked my interest...

Such a great video showing how simple it can be made with a few different tools! Thanks for allowing us to have and use the template :) I look forward to seeing future videos and making one of my own! 😄

Great videography in this one. Lots of contrast. I love how you keep it fresh, and continuously try new things. I'll watch the rest later; I had to just skip through it for now

Very nice. Came out great. Different use of light, than some of your other videos.... Very nice.

This was incredibly satisfying to watch, definitely subscribing.

Sir, I must say that you did a wonderful job filming this. Really nice video! I love your projects too

Beautiful knife and excellent work.

Thanks! I built my own from your template, It looks really fancy

Man, that looks wonderful.

Wow John that's brilliant ! I love the composition of light when Grinding well done !

I think this was the manliest video I've ever watched

that is really nice john. all i have done is re-handle kitchen knives but this looks doable when i get my new shed built.

that mirror finish sure is slick looking. great video!

Very nice knife thinking of making one for cooking and camping.

Very cool!!! Add another thing to my list of things to make........Thank you

Man that thing is gorgeous.

Now that's just flat out gorgeous, John. Nicely done! You really make it look easy.

these are the coolest videos, it would be a dream to make my own pocket knife.

Outstanding project, incredible video production and still shots, on point "teaching." Thanks John.

Awesome useful video , with full details and template, it's great

Wow... It's like ASMR in the workshop.

Thank you. I made this with wood for the sides and I wish I could add photos here but it’s a ok knife.

Well done, thank you very much. Nice greatings from germany Tim

Beautiful knife and very nice explanation, John.

dang the polishing really tops it off 😍 really good vid!

Beatiful work, such beautiful work👏

That has got to be the coolest knife you have made yet (in my opinion). really like the way aluminum cleans up. I also think that it will age well, I made an aluminum ring back about 8 years ago and it's been on my key-chain for the last 4, still shiny, and the nicks and scratches smooth over with time to give an awesome worn look so, it's got to be good for pocket knife scales.

You are one awesome craftsman!

Looks perfect. Nice job here.

I love seeing knives made, and hopefully you get lots of views and positive comments to encourage you to do more :)

All Vimeo style! But I like the closeups

HOLY MOLY THIS IS A BEAUTY, GOOD THAT YOU'RE TAKING BTW😀

my new favourite site. Awesome

Thanks for the new project!

That's a great looking knife, great job. 👍

Nicely done video. Very clear instructions and a nice finished knife at the end. Thanks for taking the time to share.

I watched you build this knife and made my own version from just watching you work. It didnt come out perfect and it was a bit loose, but i hope to remedy that in the future. Love the work you do. Keep it up :)

you did something i cant produce ... one great builder i must say bud

thanks, this showed me a lot your knife came out great

once its all done it doesnt look flimsy anymore it actually looks really nice

Beautiful work

Awesome video, nice creation, and you're leaving me to wish I had a shop at home... I keep thinking how awesome it would be to have a few extra hours at work with the material and equipment they have on hand and all that inspiration flooding RU-vid... I'd love to make some stuff at home! Soon enough, I hope you keep putting new ideas on the table!

Turned out awesome

I love that camera work

sweet little folder. you have some mad skills for sure.

That was a nice recreation from the wooden knife, with more functionality and usability and the polishing was extra nice touch. I enjoyed both builds..Nice Tool John..Happy New Year !!

beautiful knife. great work.

Great project and video, thank you!

Nice looking knife. Good job.

Unbelievable! This was really awesome to watch. And you certainly make it look easy! Nice job.

Very well done. Amongst other videos in this category, I really enjoyed this. Although you made it look easy, I know I have a way to go to do that kind of work.

That is ART !

I have watched alot of your videos and this is my new favourite. Really nice finish, sadly aluminum scratches too easily. This went straight to my TO-DO-list. GJ

Very nice John, very nice!

Beautiful work.

That knife looked great

the knife came out really nice you did a great job on it .Happy New Year

looks awesome

great video! You make this look so easy and it's an awesome looking knife

wow great job! looks amazing

Nice job on that knife John. Really well done.

Nice work John. Great video to start the new year

Dude, it looks AMAZING.

I have noticed that myself that circular saw blades seem to work very good as Springs without any treatment. I think the heat of cutting them out Brings the temper back just enough to make it a good Spring

very very very very nice work

John, That's a work of art ! Another brilliant video .. Thanks for sharing , Happy new year .

wow that came out great. Nice work...

First time on your channel,very very impressed by your skill sets, cinematography and engineering skills. Very well documented, an eye candy to watch.