Many people enjoy making knives, but some are easier to accomplish than others, and one of the more challenging types is the folding knife due to the moving parts and the locking mechanism.
However, if you are already a more advanced knifemaker and are looking for an interesting project to take on, having a go at making a DIY folding knife could be a rewarding job to try – and if you feel like trying, here are 15 plans that will show you how.
Table of Contents
1. DIY Folding Knife with Button Lock
In the introduction to this plan, the author warns us that this is not a plan for beginners – so if this is your first attempt at knifemaking, you might prefer to choose something a little easier. However, if you are confident in your abilities and looking for a challenge, this plan for a beautiful folding knife with button lock could be just what you’re looking for, and in that case, why not give it a go?
2. How to Make a Folding Knife with Basic Tools
As this YouTuber explains, this plan is mostly self-explanatory and is relatively simple to follow without a constant voice-over telling you about every detail all the way through. Instead, he decided to let his actions speak for themselves, and as a result, this video tutorial consists mainly of him demonstrating what you need to do. We think it works well too, so if you’re looking for an easy plan for a folding knife, this one is a recommended watch.
3. Easy DIY Folding Knife
The start of this video is fascinating because in it, this YouTuber shows us how he essentially reverse-engineered a cheap locking knife so he could learn how to make a better version himself. The rest of the video consists of him teaching us everything he discovered, allowing him – and you – to make a DIY version that’s much better than the original knife he disassembled.
4. Making a Folding Knife
When making a DIY knife, you’ll need to plan it properly before you begin if you want to achieve the desired results, and nowadays, even amateur knifemakers have access to computer software that can help you do it. This plan shows you how to take that computer-designed folding knife and turn it into reality in only a few simple steps, and as you can see, the finished item looks amazing.
5. Knife Making – Folding Knife
Sometimes when it comes to DIY plans, we don’t need any complicated instructions because just being shown how to do something is a much better way to learn. That means if you already know your way around the workshop, a video like this one could be all you need. In it, we watch as this skilled YouTuber shows us the entire process of making a folding knife, making it easy to understand what he’s doing at each step. After that, all you need to do is copy his actions and you should be able to produce something just like it.
6. Making a Metal Pocket Knife
Making a folding knife is similar to making a regular knife – except for the closing mechanism, which can be a little trickier. However, in this tutorial, you’ll find all the information you need for mastering this challenging aspect of making a folding knife, allowing you to concentrate more on the rest of the design. We also love the artistic way he shows off the completed knife at the end by placing it on a snow-covered tree stump, highlighting just how attractive it looks. And if you want something similar, this tutorial tells you everything you need to know to make one.
7. DIY Friction Folder Knife
If you’re looking for a video that will teach you how a friction folding knife works, this one is well worth checking out. In it, we watch as this knifemaker first designs and then makes the blade and the handle, finishing up with a handsome yet convenient and practical knife that anyone would be proud to own. And the best thing is, as long as you have a few basic skills, this plan isn’t especially hard to follow – so what are you waiting for?
8. DIY Folding Knife from Scrap
Here’s an intriguing idea. In this video, this YouTuber tells us about a project he attempted –  making a pocket folding knife for his grandfather. However, even more interesting is that he decided to make it from scrap, which just goes to show that you don’t need to spend lots of money to make a knife, even a high-quality one that you intend to give as a gift. By the end, he ends up making three of them – and we’re sure his grandad will be super-pleased with the knife he receives!
9. How to Make a Flipper Folding Knife
With this plan, you’ll learn how to make a flipper knife that’s ideal for when you need a blade in a hurry. For example, if you’re out in the woods and you’re attacked by a wild animal, you might not have time to fumble with a regular knife, and in that kind of situation, one of these would be perfect. It’s not the easiest project, but this tutorial simplifies it as much as possible, allowing you to make a homemade knife that one day may even save your life.
10. Knife Making – Cross Folder Knife
We love watching time-lapse tutorials like this because it can be almost mesmerizing observing skilled workers do their thing. There are no explanations to guide you, but since everything is demonstrated so clearly, it’s easy enough to follow – and if you have the basic skills, it shouldn’t be too hard to copy. With the carbon steel blade and brass handle, the knife he makes is a highly attractive piece – we enjoyed watching this a lot, and we’re sure many others will too.
11. Making a Gentleman’s Folder Knife
According to this YouTuber, he started off making a knife for his friend, but when it was finished, he liked it so much, he decided to make another one for himself. We love the attention to detail, and we especially appreciate the beautiful patterned blade. The comments section below the video is full of praise for what he created – and when you watch the video, you’re sure to see why.
12. Making a Kayaking Folding Knife
If you enjoyed the video above in #11, here’s another one you should like because it’s from the same talented YouTuber. In this upload, he shows us how he made a special folding knife for kayaking. As any water sports enthusiasts will know, knives for kayaking have some specific requirements, making this job a particular challenge for him. However, in his video, he shows us how he overcame these challenges, and as you can see at the end, the knife he made is fantastic.
13. Knife Making – How to Make a Damascus Folding Knife
Many of the tutorials we have seen show you the process of making knives, but only people who already have a fair idea about knifemaking will be able to copy them. Otherwise, the techniques will probably be beyond you – and you probably won’t have access to the kind of equipment required either. However, they’re still fun to watch, so even beginners will be able to enjoy this video demonstration of making a beautiful folding Damascus knife. And if you are a more expert knifemaker already, you might find it a fun project to try to copy.
14. The Anatomy of a Folding Pocket Knife
There are several types of folding knife, so before you decide to try to make one, you’ll need to learn about what they are. In that case, this blog should be worth a look because it teaches you about the differences between slip joint, lock back and liner lock/frame lock knives. Then, once you understand the different options, you can look for a tutorial that will show you how to make it, allowing you to create a beautiful knife of your own.
15. How to Make a Slip Joint Folding Knife
If you read about the different types of knives in #14 and you’re looking for a plan for a slip joint knife, this tutorial will teach you how to make one. It’s perhaps not a great project for novices to attempt because some of the techniques required are a little advanced. However, he explains and demonstrates everything clearly, so if you do have the necessary skills and are looking for something that will test your abilities, this is an idea you might have fun trying to copy.
Plenty of great plans to copy
As you can see, there are plenty of great plans online for you to follow, showing you how to make folding knives in a range of different styles.
We’ve enjoyed finding these plans for you, so we hope you’ve enjoyed reading and watching them too – and above all, we hope we’ve helped you find the plan you needed for making a DIY folding knife of your own.