I have alot of fun making up knives from blades I buy. I get most of them from Texas Knife Works or Jantz. Both sell quality blades and suppliies, although I frequently use my own wood scraps or antler for grips. You can make a high quality knife for a very reasonable price. It makes me very happy that my friends and family enjoy getting one of my knifes for a gift. There is alot of online knife making information. My only recommendation is that any blades I got off of ebay had very poor edges and grind to them and needed professional finishing. When it comes to tools, if you start with a finished blade you probably have most everything you need. Varying grits of sandpaper, an assortment of files, drills (for the handle matereal. You wont be able to drill the blades) a dremel tool is very helpful, but not essential.