I'm a part time custom knife maker
www.nwaknives.com
Take a look at
www.bladeforums.com
There is a bunch of info on that site as well as my maker forum
I started with a 8" bench grinder but have worked with metal ever since I was 14 yrs old. So it just comes naturally to me. There is nothing more rewarding than making your own knife and taking game from field to freezer with that knife. I will warn you though, it is very addictive. I am constantly drawing knives for new ideas but finding the time to make all of them is a different story. Don't be afraid to give it a try, old files make great knives too. I also sell tool steels for knife making at my real job. We sell O-1 A-2 and D-2 precision ground steel.
As for stock removal made knives a portable bandsaw works very well for cutting out the blade. Or a 4" angle grinder, which can also be used to put the bevels on the steel as well. Heat treat can be done with a oxy acetelene torch or a simple on brick forge and a propane torch.
Feel free to e mail me any questions you may have.
[email protected]
Good luck and enjoy
Nick