tell me about Rail Road Spikes

Tajue17 · October 01, 2011, 08:24:00 AM

my buddy was cleaning out his dads stuff and found a big can full of un used railroad spikes that are maybe 30-40yrs old he said, figured I'd take them and see what can be done with them but I'm not a knife maker..

I thought I seen somewhere where someone was making knives out of them?

Lin Rhea · October 01, 2011, 08:53:00 AM

Railroad spikes have clean steel, but generally have so low of carbon content that they dont harden enough for a servicable blade. Yes people make knives from them, but other than an art object, I suggest using other steel for the blade. Ever pick up and handle a spike knife? It's handle usually make it very unbalanced and heavy. Good steel is easy to come by, so I prefer to use it over the spikes for my blades.

The fact is lots of people make knives from them and that's their choice.

kuch · October 01, 2011, 02:38:00 PM

Ted , there are lots and lots of RR spike forging projects ie. door knockers,handles for anything, etc. To make a knife ,I only use HC RR spikes ( has HC on the head). Most spikes are not HC....you can actually feel the difference when you forge a HC spike vs regular spike. Lin is correct, they are heavy and unbalanced....basically "you just want to make a knife out of a RR spike" not a "perfectly" balanced,whiz bang steel ,Sunday go to meetin' knife...You can do some creative forging to the handle 'cause there is plenty of steel ...which comes out pretty neat, and honestly...I've skinned and butchered a deer with HC RR knife...it works well enough. Spikes are plentiful and cheap and you can forge all day , gaining much practice and hammer control.

tippit · October 01, 2011, 03:01:00 PM

You can twist up good steel to look like a RR spike knife plus have a great edge...tippit

Tajue17 · October 01, 2011, 08:48:00 PM

thank you all for the info. but honestly I was going to give them away if anyone wanted them its a heavy can,,, Tippit your right over in Carlisle and I'm in Plymouth if you want them their yours.

tippit · October 01, 2011, 10:04:00 PM

Thanks, I really don't need them...but your welcome to come up anytime.

Tajue17 · October 02, 2011, 08:44:00 PM

and do some hunting, shooting?

tippit · October 02, 2011, 09:46:00 PM

Ted,
Do you make knives or want to learn?

I see you saltwater fly fish...headed to New Brunswick on Thursday for Atlantics with my spey rods.

Bobby Urban · October 03, 2011, 10:15:00 AM

You can make a very servicable hawk with RR spikes if you forge weld in a small piece of 5160 for the edge. I have made a few like this as well as doing the same with old wrought iron I have piles of. The wrought has some great, almost damascus like, character after you etch it in acid.

Tajue17 · October 05, 2011, 06:43:00 AM

I don't make knives or even have any of those small fire pits to melt this stuff,,, I got these figuring someone would want them for free but shipping them is insane.

Tippit, thats awesome about the Atlantics,,, I do mostly heavy saltwater 9 to 12 weight stuff. I may go for steelhead for the first time this season but I know nothing about fresh water and it will show i do like casting top water to smallys and pan fish,, put me in the ocean with a flyrod though and I'm home,,,, I go to the Bears den alot but still learning to make these flys..

good luck on your trip and pm some pics, or send a linc if your on any of the fly forums.