How To Make A SlipJoint Pocketknife

Take sand paper and smooth the bone and bolsters. Keep using finer and finer paper until you are satisfied with the look. I usually go for a frosted looking finish because it will not show the scratches that a mirror polished finish would. I sand up to about a 800 grit paper. Then I move to a “00” steel wool followed by a “0000” steel wool. This gives the bolsters, pins, and liner a nice smooth look, and it really polishes up the bone.

The knife is almost finished. We just need to sharpen it and clean it up. I start the sharpening process off by running the blade across a 220 grit belt a couple of times to cut the main edge. Then I take it to a very fine stone and work it back and forth until I’m satisfied with the results. I’ll also strop it to remove the wire edge. The knife is nice and sharp now.

This is my favorite part: Take WD-40 and blow out all of the grit and grime that has collected in and around the knife. Use it to clean all of the grit out of the blade’s pivot area. Wipe the excess oil away with clean dry cloth, put a drop of lubricating oil in the pivot area, open and close the knife a few times, and go show your wife.

The finished knife. I really enjoyed making this knife and this tutorial, but I’m glad to be done with both. As with every knife that I finish, I see things that I could, and would have, done different. However, these are the basic steps that I take to make a slip joint folder.

I hope the tutorial was informative and enjoyable. Please email me if you have any questions or comments.

Happy knife making!