Much like you I am a beginner in this amazing craft, but I will share what I think has helped me the most with starting out.
I got my first hammer from Sears. It was a 2 1/2# cross peen. As far as tongs go, Black Bear forge on YouTube has videos on how to make your first tongs very easily.
I've tried to use leaf springs for knives and they just cracked in heat treat. I would use new steel for knives because you never know when reclaimed steel will have stress fractures.
I did not start out just forging blades, I made hooks, bottle openers, and tools way before. I think that ski