Additional information
by Laura Zerra (Author)
Create yourself the perfect knife with step-by-step guidance from survivalist and Naked and Afraid star Laura Zerra.
From her vast experience in the wild, Zerra has learned about what works and what doesn't, what steel will hold an edge, and what nuances in blade design will make or break a knife. In this concise and affordable edition of A Modern Guide to Knifemaking, she shares essential knifemaking tips and tricks, including detailed instructions for both forging and stock removal.
- Knife Design - Consider what you want your knife to accomplish, develop a design, and make a prototype.
- Choosing and Sourcing Materials - Learn how to choose and buy steel for your knife.
- Forging Techniques - Build your own forge, then learn forging basics.
- Developing a Blade Shape - Forge the shape of your knife and make the blade tip.
- Cutting and Finishing the Blade - Cut the blade profile, grind in bevels to make the edge of the knife, heat treat and temper your blade, and grind and polish it.
- Making a Handle and Sheath - Create a handle and sheath for your new knife.
- Maintaining the Edge - Learn sharpening techniques to maintain the knife's edge.
Throughout, Zerra includes Pro-Tips from some of the leading knifemakers working today, including Ken Onion, Kaila Cumings, and Mike Jones. Modern Knifemaking for Beginners covers every detail of knifemaking so you can create your knife with confidence.
Author Biography
Laura Zerra is a primitive survival expert who has been practicing her craft in different ecosystems around the world for the past fifteen years. She is perhaps best known for her appearance on Discovery Channel's Naked and Afraid and Naked and Afraid XL, completing survival challenges in Panama, the Peruvian Amazon, and Colombia. She spent a combined total of eighty-two days in the wilderness, relying on her knife as her sole survival tool.
Through her extensive time spent in these and countless other survival situations, Laura gained a deep appreciation for a good knife and an understanding of what elements truly work out in the field. She chose to master the art of knifemaking to not only create her own perfect knife, but also to experience surviving in the wild with a blade made by her own hand.
In addition to her survival experience, Laura has worked as a butcher, a taxidermist, and a farrier. Learning these crafts has further added to her knowledge, understanding, and love of knives.
Her belief that life is a continuous learning process drives her to constantly seek new experiences and push the edges of her comfort zone. A self-proclaimed nomad, Laura shares her experiences through speaking appearances and teaching. When not practicing the art of primitive survival or working in the shop, her hobbies include hunting, spearfishing, freediving, bow building, shed antler hunting, and learning new skills.You can follow her adventures by visiting laurazerra.com.
