Crafting a Kiridashi Knife: A Hands-On Adventure at Fuse33

February 23, 2025

I had an absolute blast at the kiridashi knife-making class at Fuse33 in Calgary on February 20&21, 2025! If you’ve ever wanted to craft your own knife, I highly recommend checking it out!

Let me take you through the process step by step and share some of the fun (and fire!) that went into making my very own kiridashi knife.

What is a Kiridashi Knife?

Kiridashi literally translates to “utility knife” in Japanese. These small but mighty blades have been used for centuries in Japan for everything from woodworking and leather crafting to opening packages and sharpening pencils.

Unlike traditional Western knives, kiridashi blades are beveled on only one side, making them incredibly sharp and precise.

Our instructor, Buddy Shaw, is a professional knife maker, and he walked us through every step of the process with expert guidance. Over two days, we transformed a simple piece of steel into a functional and beautifully crafted knife. Here’s how we did it!

Day 1: Shaping the Blade and Heat Treating

Step 1: Designing the Knife

We started with a pre-cut piece of steel that Buddy had prepared in advance. Our job was to refine the shape by tracing a template onto the steel.

This gave us the outline of our final blade, which we then had to carefully grind down.

Step 2: Grinding the Shape

Using a belt grinder and a little push piece to help us keep our fingers away from the grinder, we slowly worked our way down to the lines we had drawn.

Water is an important step… a lot of water! Grind a bit, dip the blade so it doesn’t get too hot. You literally cannot dip it in water enough times.

This step required patience and precision—grind too much, and you risk ruining the shape of your knife.

Step 3: Preparing for the Handle

Once we had our blade shape, we drilled holes into the steel using a drill press (and another template clamped to our pieces). These holes would later hold the pins that secure the handle.

We also added small grip indents to the spine of the knife using metal files. This small detail makes a big difference in comfort and prevents slipping when using the knife.

Step 4: Heat Treating – Playing with Fire!

Time to bring out the torches! Heat treating is a crucial part of knife-making because it strengthens the steel.

We heated the blade until it was no longer magnetic, starting at the middle and moving toward the tip to ensure even heat distribution. Then, we quenched it in oil to lock in that hardness.

At this point, Buddy took our blades home for tempering and we called it a day!

Day 2: Finishing the Knife

Step 5: Sanding and Polishing

The next day, we were greeted with our heat-treated blades, now darker and tougher than before.

We used progressively finer grit sandpaper to polish them. With enough elbow grease, you can almost see yourself in the blade!

Step 6: Assembling the Handle

We shaped the knife handle from a composite wood material, grinding it down to fit comfortably in hand.

Then, we drilled holes into the handle pieces, ensuring they aligned perfectly with the blade holes.

This was a critical step—if the holes didn’t match up, the whole knife wouldn’t come together properly!

Step 7: Epoxy & Pinning

Once everything fit together, we mixed epoxy resin and applied it to the inside of the handle pieces. A pro tip we learned: marking an ‘X’ on the inside of each handle piece helps keep track of which side faces in.

After applying epoxy, we inserted the pins and clamped everything together. The epoxy we used set in about 30 minutes, so there wasn’t too much waiting around.

Step 8: Sanding Down the Pins

After the epoxy had cured, we sanded the pins down to be flush with the handle. We even taped the handle before sanding to avoid accidental scratches.

Step 9: Shaping the Sheath

Next, we shaped the sheath! Just heat up the material and it will mould itself perfectly around our individual knives.

Cut the final shape and pop in some eyelets to keep it closed.

Step 10: Sharpening – The Final Touch

Finally, it was time to bevel the cutting edge of the knife. Since kiridashi knives are only beveled on one side, we had to be careful with the angle.

After grinding the edge to shape, we moved on to wet stones for the final sharpening.

Sharpening a knife is no joke—you have to maintain the correct angle to avoid ruining the edge. But once it’s done, the blade is razor-sharp and ready to use!

Final Thoughts: Would I Do It Again?

Making a knife from scratch is a lot of work, but the process was both rewarding and eye-opening. I now have a much deeper appreciation for the craftsmanship behind handmade knives.

Would I do it again? Maybe! It was a fun challenge, but also required patience and precision. Regardless, I walked away with a knife I crafted myself and some great memories.

If you’re curious about trying it for yourself, check out the next class at Fuse33. It’s a unique and hands-on experience that lets you create something truly personal—and you get to leave with a custom knife you made with your own two hands!

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We’ve got our own hands-on DIY experiences planned and we love to share other classes happening in the city too. Shoot us your name and email and we’ll share any information on classes we think are worth attending.