Forging a Railroad Spike Knife

@bradtheblacksmith forges a railroad spike into a functional fixed blade knife suitable for cheese or steak knife, or even a letter opener.

Railroad spikes are well know for a multitude of blacksmithing projects and can make a useable knife. Please note, the railroad spikes typically have a carbon content that is too low to keep a decent edge for a long period of time.

Many thanks to Greg @harlowsound8402 for filming, editing and music.

My socials @bradtheblacksmith on Instagram and Facebook.

[Trevkongable]

I showed this to my class and subscribed, thanks so much for the video!

[robinpedler]

very good info, just starting out to smithing

[kennethprescott]

Very interesting. I quite enjoyed watching this. Some of my customers are blacksmiths, but Brad is the first one I've seen on YouTube.

[clarencedavis]

Great tutorial, I enjoyed the way you explained each step. I’m a beginner and need your kind of instruction. Looking forward to the next video.

[_BLANK_BLANK]

Really clean work with the forging. It came out really well.

Im glad to see you mentioned that its not the best steel for a good bit of tasks. A lot of people coming into knifemaking, don't know enough to realize they wont see the performance they want from a railroad spike. Theyre great practice, but not the ideal material for most blades.

[annettehewitson]

What sort of fire box do you use and how it works, maybe do a video on your firebox for beginners, good video. Thank you.

[JoshMo]

I purchased a railroad spike knife in Collinsville, Al last weekend. Looks like it will be a sturdy bushcraft knife. I'm guessing you didn't craft it, judging by your Aussie accent =)

[jorgemisaelbasurtoordaz]

Excelente video pero es una lastima que no se que es lo que dise o explica 😢
Me encanto el producto final espero poder hacer uno muy pronto

[TooTall]

This video just earned you
a new subscriber very informative 🤙👌👋

[connormarsh]

Where can you buy ifb? Refractory? Etc
Help please

[Merlock_Holmes]

What can you put on it after you make one to keep it from rusting? My son made one at the faire and its got a bit of rust on it.

[jackdorsey]

Nice work. Do you make a shieth for the blade?

[MAndersenbamboorods]

Try using a super Quench find it on you tube

[stevesyncox]

Are you not forge welding a file in for the edge? It’s a flat railroad spike if not. There is no knife in it.

[jmbstudio]

RR spikes do not contain enough carbon to make and actual edged weapon. Even the hi carbon spikes for corners are only .3 carbon. You need a minimum of .8 carbon to make a weapon that will actually hold an edge. They make good wall hangers, but a knife it is not. Try chopping a 2x4 in half then it should still shave your arm, this is an actual bladesmith test. Try it. Now go to New Jersey Steel and buy some actual knife steel, you will respect yourself in the morning.
Forge On!

[michaelsteinmann]

Your work is beautiful, but in my humble opinion, railroad spikes are not a good knife material.
I don't think that they contain enough carbon to make a good knife out of and I mean the long term, a knife that will know how to deal with the damage of its use/abuse and the damage of time.

[komododragon]

это даже уже не смешно... из железнодорожного "костыля"... голь на выдумки ...

[komododragon]

как бы у тебя красиво не получалось - в итоге это будет перочинный ножик...