BlacksmithingBlacksmithing

How to make a knife from a How to make a knife from a Railroad SpikeRailroad Spike

ByByNick RatliffNick Ratliff

MaterialsMaterials

Railroad SpikeRailroad SpikeWelding GlovesWelding GlovesSafety GlassesSafety GlassesBlacksmithing Tongs (I used Vise-Grips)Blacksmithing Tongs (I used Vise-Grips)Ball-point HammerBall-point HammerAnvil (I used a sledge hammer)Anvil (I used a sledge hammer)Forge (I used a gas burner)Forge (I used a gas burner)File or GrinderFile or Grinder

Step 1:Step 1:

Place Railroad Spike into forge (if you Place Railroad Spike into forge (if you have one).have one).

If you don’t have a forge, which happens If you don’t have a forge, which happens to be expensive, you can use a gas burner to be expensive, you can use a gas burner and place the spike on the rails.and place the spike on the rails.

Step 2:Step 2:

Ignite the Forge or Gas Burner.Ignite the Forge or Gas Burner.

Step 3:Step 3:

Heat the Railroad Spike until it is reddened and Heat the Railroad Spike until it is reddened and hot enough to be malleable.hot enough to be malleable.

Step 4:Step 4:

Use Gloves and Vise-Grips to remove Use Gloves and Vise-Grips to remove Railroad Spike from flames.Railroad Spike from flames.

Step 5:Step 5:

Quickly place hot Railroad Spike onto Quickly place hot Railroad Spike onto Anvil (in my case, the sledge hammer).Anvil (in my case, the sledge hammer).

Step 6:Step 6:

Use Vise-Grips to hold the Railroad Spike Use Vise-Grips to hold the Railroad Spike in place while using the Ball-point hammer in place while using the Ball-point hammer to flatten the end of the Railroad Spike.to flatten the end of the Railroad Spike.

Continue Steps 3-6 until the Railroad Continue Steps 3-6 until the Railroad Spike has reached the desired thickness Spike has reached the desired thickness for your knife.for your knife.

The following are some pictures of my The following are some pictures of my experience with achieving the desired experience with achieving the desired thickness.thickness.

Let me be the first to tell you that Let me be the first to tell you that hammering hardened steel to flatten it is hammering hardened steel to flatten it is no easy task.no easy task.

It took several hours to achieve the It took several hours to achieve the thickness I wished for.thickness I wished for.

By the time I was finished, I did not think I By the time I was finished, I did not think I would be able to move my arm the next would be able to move my arm the next day.day.

Step 7:Step 7:

After you have hammered the metal down After you have hammered the metal down to the desired thickness, place the to the desired thickness, place the Railroad Spike into a bucket of water to Railroad Spike into a bucket of water to finalize the thickness and shape of the finalize the thickness and shape of the blade.blade.

Step 8:Step 8:

After you have achieved the desired After you have achieved the desired thickness of your blade and cooled the thickness of your blade and cooled the metal then you are ready for the finishing metal then you are ready for the finishing touches.touches.

Use the File or Grinder to sharpen the Use the File or Grinder to sharpen the blade and give it an edge.blade and give it an edge.

Here is my finished knife:Here is my finished knife: