Forging a Railroad Spike Knife

[@Trevkongable]

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

[@bradtheblacksmith]

You're welcome, glad you have found it useful.

[@robinpedler1239]

very good info, just starting out to smithing

[@_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.

[@CaptCorpMURICA]

If you want to make a railroad spike knife that’ll be a workhorse, you can forge weld a high carbon bit for the edge. I use 5160 from an old truck leaf spring for this. The softer railroad spike is great to have as the spine of the knife while the hard 5160 performs like a champ.

[@_BLANK_BLANK]

@@CaptCorpMURICA yeah, ive seen people take that approach. Should work well, especially since its basically just warikami , or san mai (depending on the way they want to do it).

[@bradtheblacksmith]

Thanks! Yes, it is definitely worth mentioning that it has a low carbon content to avoid disappointment from beginner makers. Also helps a great deal with the heat treatment 👍

[@bradtheblacksmith]

That will definitely work a treat. You get the look and the performance. I usually use 5160 for my axes and have never been disappointed. I think @diesineveryfilm does a spike knife with a 1075 edge...

[@kennethprescott7713]

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

[@bradtheblacksmith]

Glad you enjoyed it! I'm going to be working on a few videos in the new year so keep an eye out.

[@clarencedavis6551]

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.

[@bradtheblacksmith]

Thanks mate!

[@chrissample3047]

great job

[@johansmit2293]

Well done

[@bradtheblacksmith]

Cheers 🍻

[@butcherofblaviken1619]

Love your workshop, keep it coming

[@TooTall553]

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

[@bradtheblacksmith]

Thanks mate, I appreciate it.

[@annettehewitson6426]

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.

[@bradtheblacksmith]

Sure. The one I use is a gas forge. It works like giant Bunsen Burner in a highschool science class, except it can get the forge to 1250°C. The more gas and air that goes into the burner, the hotter it gets. If you dial back the oxygen by closing the air intake, it can make a cooler flame and reduce the amount of oxidation on the steel you are forging.

[@jorgemisaelbasurtoordaz8329]

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

[@JoshMo1993]

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 =)

[@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.

[@bradtheblacksmith]

Give the knife a quick brush up with a wire brush or sand paper to remove the rust first, then gently heat the blade with a heat gun and apply a little bees wax or a product called Axe Wax and wipe off the excess. This is a more durable option that I usually used. You could also just any food grade oil if you are using it for food or mineral oil. You just need to prevent moisture sitting on the blade.

[@jackdorsey4850]

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

[@bradtheblacksmith]

Thanks. For these ones no, but you totally can.

[@ТамерланГалаев]

Eksklyslwe Super master 👍🔥👌.

[@bradtheblacksmith]

Cheers 🍻

[@MASI_forging]

Profeshional 👍👍

[@bradtheblacksmith]

Thankyou

[@davidhamilton7628]

Is that a Trenton anvil

[@bradtheblacksmith]

It's a Fisher! She's had a hard life before me but it's pretty flat overall.

[@davidhamilton7628]

@@bradtheblacksmith my Trenton has the same eagle on the side of it

[@bradtheblacksmith]

Oh really?! Mine has Fisher stamped on the feet of the anvil. I'll have to go double check now hahaha.

[@nancysmith9487]

Hey where'd you get those...

[@bradtheblacksmith]

I was lucky enough to be gifted a large quantity. People do have them from time to time or you can buy them new from the manufacturer.

[@truth-Hurts375]

Try E-Bay...in Western Australia you can find them by the buckets full.

[@MAndersenbamboorods]

Try using a super Quench find it on you tube

[@bradtheblacksmith]

Thanks for the tip 👍 I'll check it out.

[@TheWendelj]

How much? I want one

[@bradtheblacksmith]

I have them on my website www.bradtheblacksmith.com/shop/p/yov12qnylc1ax3leal8f3gbroyv4ex

[@ratapotamus]

Rad the Radsmith!

[@obmitno6745]

Are you selling these?

[@bradtheblacksmith]

They sure are. They are here on my website 👍 www.bradtheblacksmith.com/shop/p/yov12qnylc1ax3leal8f3gbroyv4ex

[@stevesyncox9893]

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.

[@bradtheblacksmith]

You can totally weld in some 1084 or an old file to get a knife edge that will perform like a good knife should. These knives will hold up for tasks like cutting soft foods like cheese or maybe a steak knife. It's more of a novelty item. Like I mentioned in the video, it won't hold an edge well, the steel just wasn't designed to be turned into blades. I notice a lot of beginners getting into this thinking that spikes are amazing and are disappointed when they can't get an edge to hold. The only way they will hold a decent edge is if they do what you suggested and add a better hardening material 👍

[@ZaraHriangtlang_78]

handle may too heavy

[@jmbstudio6873]

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!

[@bradtheblacksmith]

Yes, I totally agree. They will not hold an edge like I mentioned in the video, the steel is just not designed for that purpose. I usually sell them as a cheese knife or letter opener for that purpose. I have been making knives and instructing knives classes for a few years now, I have some pictures on my Instagram @bradtheblacksmith of some I have made recently. And don't worry, they are from high carbon.

[@michaelsteinmann529]

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.

[@bradtheblacksmith]

Thankyou 😁. I agree, it's more of a novelty as the steel is just not designed to be used in this way. Good for a cheese knife or letter opener, maybe a steak knife but not much else.

[@АлексейЧердаков-р5л]

костыль же не калится...

[@komododragon6161]

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

[@komododragon6161]

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

[@FransBauermaffiateamalexsoze]

Subscribed like to watch stuff like this 👍

[@bradtheblacksmith]

Appreciate the sub. I will hopefully get a few more videos out soon so keep an eye out.

[@FransBauermaffiateamalexsoze]

only you have to get another camera that can hear your voice a little clearer 👍

[@bradtheblacksmith]

Thanks for letting me know, I have a solution that may work well for the next one 👍