I don't think it was ever a discussion to prove that a spike is good steel for knives. The forging range, difficulty of moving the steel, and HT are all different as is how effective they will be for their purpose. Make a punch or chisel with mild steel, 5160, W2 or H13 and you face the same issues. Your comment goes for all carbon steel items. I like decorative ironwork and antique reproduction mostly but am of the school that a good knife is 20% steel selection, 30% geometry and 50% heat treat.
Latticino, I agree with your advice about leaf or coils springs, especially if you are practicing to improve knife-making skills. I'm not saying using a spike is a soup to nuts dry run of knife making. We are just making recommendations based on our experience and trying to help.
#RAILROAD SPIKE KNIFE MAKING FREE#
Of course anyone is free to go their own path. That is why, given the relative low cost of, say, automotive spring drops from a shop that replaces them (to date free with a little dumpster diving for me), many folks strongly recommend that you use actual high carbon steel to forge knives out of once you get basic forging skills under your belt. You can't learn that technique with mild steel. Mild steel just works differently.Īlso one of the key elements of making a good knife is heat treatment. It will be harder to work, and will need to be worked in a different temperature band to avoid either burning the steel at the high end or cracking it at the low end. I wouldn't call one a good knife by any stretch but they are fun to make and many like them. And if you are having fun or just practicing techniques there's nothing wrong with that.Īgree, but with one caveat: If you are practicing techniques for forging knives with spikes and expect the steel to move under the hammer while hot in the same way once you use actual high carbon steel you are in for a surprise. If you forge the head and tang out and add a traditional handle, then what's the point? Even if you add a high carbon edge your still left with an overly heavy handle and poor balance, and is a novelty item would hold a decent edge. There are a lot of things you can do with RR spikes, making a decent knife is not one of them. As for the chop test, would like to examine the edge before and after chopping with a radio shack hand held microscope, think it's something like 30 power? I've seen dull to the touch European swords cut mats with a single swing. The free hanging rope test is more about sharpness, geometry and speed of swing than steel or hardness.
I didn't see the video, but I did see an article from Wayne Goddard about a student passing the free hanging rope test with a dead soft mild steel blade, it folded over in the 2x4 test. I have even seen some high carbon damascus RR spikes made and then forged into knives. I have seen some that had a high carbon or damascus edge welded on and have been wanting to try that myself but haven't had time. RR spikes can be fun to play with, but the simple fact is they lack enough carbon to make a decent knife.
#RAILROAD SPIKE KNIFE MAKING SKIN#
Will it skin a deer? Yes, but then so would a hammered out brass shell casing. Most people I see buying RR spike knives do it for letter openers and the novelty of it. Students who cannot attend a class for whatever reason may reschedule once, on a space-available basis.You can make a knife from a RR spike, and you can play tricks with super quench or water or whatever to give it a marginal edge. Important notice: No refunds are allowed once the enrollment fee is received. All enrollments are subject to availability.
No exceptions.ĮNROLLMENT OF ALL STUDENTS MUST BE COMPLETED AT LEAST ONE WEEK BEFORE CLASS DATE. Students aged 15-17 years old may enroll so long as a parent or legal guardian signs the attendance release form at the beginning of the class. Class is designed for students ages 18 and older. NO PREVIOUS BLACKSMITHING EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. to 3:30 p.m., with a 30-minute break for lunch (5 hours). Taught at our Sprinkle Corner Smithy, from 10 a.m. Students should wear a cotton or other natural-fiber shirt (long sleeves optional), long pants or jeans, and work boots or close-toed shoes. Learn the basics of knife making by forging your own knife out of a railroad spike! These knives are a great conversation piece and not something you're going to find in a store.Įnrollment limited, so sign up early as space in this special one-day class will go fast.
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