>>666685>>666695File blades tend to be too brittle after you harden them again. For the first few, just use a $10 prepared blank like those from
northcoastknives.com. Blade steel is available lots of places. Find something you can harden properly at home. 1095 is good, but picky about heat treatment. Same with all three common 440 steels. Try something like 1075 or tool steel.
Pic related, one of my early efforts on a $10 blade blank. Handle is cedar from my own tree branch that was broken in an ice storm. I've been pleasantly surprised with how well it's held an edge.