Drawknife from sickle

[Philip Davies]

Drawknives are expensive, are they not? Even secondhand!
I have made these solely to display on Homemade Tools. All the others I ve given away and I have a decent drawknife anyway. But old sickles are easily obtained. This one is a Brades, good make.
This is easy to do, if you have the facilities. I cut down the tip, with an angle grinder for the other tang, tidying it up on the anvil, using oxyacetylene, maintaining the original temper by keeping the rest of it submerged. I think it would be too much bother to harden and temper if you used a forge. The handles are padsaw handles. People don’t use them much now, either.
I have found that the sickle curve cuts very nicely and needs very little honing.



Here’s the other one, with a pair of handles I turned for drawknives.

[mklotz]

It was only after I became interested in woodcarving that I realized how useful a drawknife can be. I own at least four of them now.

I love your idea of converting a sickle into one; the curved blade should make it even more useful. It's a great idea but, sadly, one I won't pursue. Finding a sickle, even a new one, in urban Los Angeles is a non-starter.

[Philip Davies]

Really? Not even yard sales?

[baja]

Drawknives are expensive, are they not? Even secondhand!
I have made these solely to display on Homemade Tools. All the others I ve given away and I have a decent drawknife anyway. But old sickles are easily obtained. This one is a Brades, good make.
This is easy to do, if you have the facilities. I cut down the tip, with an angle grinder for the other tang, tidying it up on the anvil, using oxyacetylene, maintaining the original temper by keeping the rest of it submerged. I think it would be too much bother to harden and temper if you used a forge. The handles are padsaw handles. People don’t use them much now, either.
I have found that the sickle curve cuts very nicely and needs very little honing.



Here’s the other one, with a pair of handles I turned for drawknives.

Wow! Great idea. I used to have a drawknife until my ex stole it with a bunch of other stuff. I have wished that I had one numerous times. I do have a sickle that I will use for this. Thanks!

[DIYer]

Thanks Philip Davies! We've added your Drawknife to our Woodworking category,
as well as to your builder page: Philip Davies's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Drawknife by Philip Davies

tags: knife