knife kit/blanks??

[adirondacker]

any recommendations on a kit or blank manufacturer.i  have made a few knives from scratch but i am looking for a couple kits to build fixed blade hunters for my sons for CHRISTmas.i would like a company that has quality leather sheaths available as well.any opinions on damascus blanks.any input would be appreciated,thanks adker

[Joel]

Try one of the following>
1.  Texas Knifemakers Supply at http://www.texasknife.com
2.  Jantz/Koval at http://www.knifemaking.com
3.  Sheffield knifemakers supply at http://www.sheffieldsupply.com
4. http://www.knifekits.com

There are others.  Just Google on knife kits.  Be careful with the ones  marked Solingen Steel.  My experience with those is that many are way too soft.  I was talking on the phone with a knifesupplier about that once.  He happened to have his rockwell tester handy and tested a Sollingen blade right then.  His comment was, "hmmmm, this can't be right.  It's says 45(barely spring steel)". The figure was correct, but he still says nothing in his catalog about that little test.  My limited experience with damascus blades is that the cheap ones are not properly heat treated. Learned that the hard way.  When it comes to damascus, I would go the extra mile and call about a specific blade, asking for a hardness(rockwell) figure. If they won't give one or don't know...don't buy. A good figure for damascus is anywhere from Rc 57 on up.  American, Scandinavian or Japanese blades are usually of guaranteed quality, so are the easiest to buy with confidence  that you're getting some decent steel.