File Guide

NOTICE: Carbide and Steel/Aluminium flexes differently, so if you tighten the guide too much, the carbide can pop off the steel, or break.

A file guide is an essential tool for knife makers and bladesmiths; while primarily used in grinding the ricasso and hidden tang shoulders, they can be used to line up handle scales as well. These guides keep your plunge lines symmetrical, which is the primary use of the tool. They can even be used to grind swages! Some use file guides to line up bolsters and pommels on full tang blades.

Our base model, of Steel, is a great and durable option for beginners, and professionals, alike. If you're making larger knives, swords, or want more carbide surface area on your file guide, the XL might be a good option for you. The Integral file guide is a unique design made to allow makers to get a firm grip on an integral bolster, which is challenging with a traditional file guide.

All guides are fitted with C2 Carbide blanks that have been surface ground so you can be sure they're dead flat and in the same plane. The carbide is not affected by abrasives other than diamond, so butting them up to a grinder is not an issue.

The pins are hardened, and each guide comes with 2x 1/4-20 socket cap screws along with an Allen wrench.

Guide Specifications and Measurements: 

• Mini Aluminum: 6061 T6 Aluminum, approximately 2.75" in length, .375" wide by 0.500" thick. The distance between the screws is 1 1/8".

• Steel: 4142 HT Alloy Steel, approximately 3.750" in length, 0.375" wide by 0.500" thick. The carbide is 0.09375" X 0.3125" X 3". The distance between the screws is 2.1875".

• Extra Large Steel: 4140 HT Alloy Steel with 5" C2 Carbide bonded to one side of each bar. This is 0.3125"X 0.9375"X 5".

• Integral: 4142 HT Alloy Steel, custom triangular design to grip Integral bolsters, 3.75" x 1.62" x .600", 2x- 1" and 1x 3.125" piece of C2 Carbide.