How to Make an M-1 Astronaut Survival Knife
Introduction: How to Make an M-1 Astronaut Survival Knife
On season 6 episode 21 of forged in fire, the contestants had to make an m-1 astronaut survival knife to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. When I saw that episode, I thought it would be fun to try and recreate one myself. I made this project to show more people how fun the hobby of knife making was, and hopefully encourage them to try it themselves.
I hope you enjoy this project!
Supplies
15-17 inches of high carbon steel
Handle material
3/16 inch diameter brass rod
5 minute epoxy
Quench tank (optional)
Canola or corn oil (optional)
Tools
Angle Grinder
Belt Sander
Polishing and Grinding Belts
Grinding and Cutting Grinder Disks
Drill press or handheld drill with 3/16 inch drill bit
Propane or Charcoal Forge (optional)
Sharpening Stone (optional)
Drem
Step 1: Finding the Right Steel
Because this knife was meant to be used for survival, it had to be strong and reliable. To make it strong, it had to be made from a certain kind of metal called high carbon steel. The reason it is important to use this kind of metal is because it is able to be hardened with a process called quenching, which I will explain on step 4.
The easiest way to test if a piece of steel is high carbon or not is by spark testing. Spark testing is where you use an angle grinder to make sparks on a piece of steel. If the sparks have a bushy pattern (much forking) that starts at the grinding wheel, then it is most likely high carbon steel. (If you only have mild steel, you can use that too, but your blade wont be as strong)
Step 2: Drawing Out the Shape
This step is very important to me when I try to recreate certain types of swords and knives. It is important because if I don't do this, my knife usually will turn out not so great. I usually draw out the knife shape on a piece of paper first, and then draw out the shape on the piece of metal to use as a guideline while grinding and sanding.
Step 3: Cutting and Grinding Out the Shape
Remember to always use ear protection, eye protection, and a dust mask while working with metal.
To grind and cut out the shape, I used an angle grinder with a cutting disk and and a belt sander with different grit belts, from 40 grit for grinding up to 600 grit for polishing. After I had cut out the general shape with the angle grinder, I simply sanded the metal down until it matched the lines I had drawn. 34
Also, Drill the holes in the tang before the next step using a 3/16 inch drill bit. (drilling through hardened steel is nearly impossible to do.)
Step 4: Quenching (optional)
(You can skip this step if you don't have access to a forge)
This is one of the most important parts in the knife making process. This step is important because it is where you put the strength into your blade. The way you quench is by heating up your blade to between 1050 and 1090 degrees Celsius (1922 and 1994 degrees Fahrenheit). If you cant measure the temperature, just heat it up until it is a red to orange color. You can heat it up using a propane or charcoal forge, or use an oxyacetylene or propane torch for an edge quench (Advantages of an edge quench over a full-blade quench include making the blade less brittle, as well as the blade having a reduced risk of bending or cracking, but edge quenches are much more of a hassle.)
The material of your quench tank is also something you should take into consideration. Do not make your quench tank out of anything flammable like wood, or anything that could give off toxic fumes if exposed to heat, like PVC. The ideal kind of quench tank would be a ammo can, because it has a lid that can be closed if the oil catches fire, and it won't burn or give off toxic or harmful fumes if exposed to heat. (I recommend using corn oil to quench, because it smells better than other oils and is not toxic)
Step 5: Making the Handle
Picking a Handle Material
Picking the right handle material while making a knife handle is very important. There are a lot of different types of handle materials to choose from. I usually use walnut because I think it looks good when you finish it, and it is also pretty strong. One of the best materials you can use though, is micarta because it is very strong and looks nice. 34