were common RR spikes would often shear under the stress. But a welding machine, and a proper rod are faster, and easier. The 'HC' RR spikes were developed to hold tracks in place where stress of a train passing was greater.such as tight turns, etc. This Twisted Railroad Spike Knife by Szco Supplies is 8.5 inches in overall length. Reserving the good steel for JUST where you need it. Lord of Battles Railroad Spike Knife Hand Forged Iron Twisted Handle Functional Blacksmith Medieval Tool Rail Knife for Historical Reenactments. You COULD forge-weld a piece of blade steel into a groove before shaping the blade bevel. straighten and sharpen them after the fight, at your leisure, provided you win). At least when used as a real tool, rather than a decoration or weapon(yes, weapons can afford softer blades.

The next blow will force it completely into the concavity of the railroad spike jig. When the auto-complete results are available, use the up and down arrows to review and Enter to select. See more ideas about railroad spike knife, railroad spikes, knife making. The blade is almost resting at the bottom of the jig. Explore Joseph Freemans board 'Railroad Spike Knives' on Pinterest. Note the air between the billet and the spike. The best sharpening angle for a given knife can vary depending on the intended. Remember it was a large Nail, it never wanted to be a knife. The cost for scrap at 40 cents a pound is not that far from the 4 per pound of buying real knife steels when one looks at how much metal it really takes to make a knife, or steel an edge. The addition of a hard-facing material to the blade edge takes only a few moments(mostly setting up the welding equipment) and gives an infinitely superior edge retention to the finished product. Place the bar on its spine, with the choil and cutting edge looking up and the point at the groove. Before and after forged railroad spike BBQ set. Same as getting a RR spike to hold a good edge. Knife Sharpening > Scissor Sharpening > Blacksmithing >. Most railroad spikes are 'steel' in much the same way re-bar is 'steel', but not quite as bad. Examples of forged items would be a railroad spike knife, fire poker, BBQ. The biggest step from 'neat knife' to 'Holy Awesomeness' has been the addition of 2 passes of chrome-manganese weld bead onto the blade edge, before sharpening.

I have one I got as a Christmas present, and several I have now made.

Sharpening a railroad spike knife