I'm still using old leaf springs and cultivator tines from the scrapyard. My local city shop also gave me all their old lawnmower blades.Good info for new knife makers. I use more sophisticated steel but then my first knife is still in use. I made it from a Farriers Rasp in 1959. I was 10 years old. The blacksmith in my hometown guided me through the process using a coal forge. I still use a coal forge when heat treating. I am in the process of building a cleaner burning forge (propane). My grinders are genuine antiques that are very slow but don't heat up the steel. I also have some excellent belt sanders. I am retired but still fool around in my machine shop. I learned forge welding 60 years ago too.