Score Lost Treasure!

**canid** · 03-15-2010, 08:59 PM

i know what you mean. the larger of the two sgian dubhs i made last [the one to replace the blade i broke] is that way. the edge doesn't quite seem prone to chipping, but it's so hard the only way to get it sharp is with way too many passes at almost no pressure across the stone. i'm pretty sure that blade is 1095.

i sure as heck wouldn't want to sharpen it twice in one week.

**welderguy** · 03-15-2010, 09:00 PM

Crash thanks for the link , canid thanks for the explanation.

**Camp10** · 03-16-2010, 05:57 AM

I've found all kinds of info on them and carbon content and it seems to vary some. As Canid said, the HC is only 30-40 points but pre-1970's there were both high and low carbon spikes and going back older still, the spikes can be 40-60 points carbon. I am trying to find out if the unmarked ones are old enough to be 1060 or if they just didnt mark the low carbon ones. I have a handful of spikes from a track that was abandoned back in the 50's and I think that these might make into blades but I havnt really had the time to play with them.

I might try a hawk if they dont harden enough for a blade but it is pretty far down on the list right now.

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 03-16-2010, 03:52 PM

Originally Posted by Camp10

I've found all kinds of info on them and carbon content and it seems to vary some. As Canid said, the HC is only 30-40 points but pre-1970's there were both high and low carbon spikes and going back older still, the spikes can be 40-60 points carbon. I am trying to find out if the unmarked ones are old enough to be 1060 or if they just didnt mark the low carbon ones. I have a handful of spikes from a track that was abandoned back in the 50's and I think that these might make into blades but I havnt really had the time to play with them.

I might try a hawk if they dont harden enough for a blade but it is pretty far down on the list right now.

Yep, I did some investigating and found out what Canid said and the above is accurate information. I may try a hawk one day but really isn't appealing to me right now either. Looks like they may become a hat rack. Oh well.....

**hunter63** · 03-16-2010, 05:51 PM

Too bad I didn't know y'all wanted those things, spikes that is, used to find buckets of old rusty one along a stretch of tracks.

Only kept one as sorta a mini anvil, and that's stuck in the end of a old oak stump.
Guess I'll have to keep my eyes open again.

**crashdive123** · 03-16-2010, 06:03 PM

CS - I was thinkign about this thread today as I finished up a termite treatment and was driving near some railroad tracks where they had replaced a bunch of the ties. I had a few minutes, so stopped. Found about a dozen spikes in 10 minutes. I'll have to go back when I have a little more time. Thanks for the inspiration.

**Rick** · 03-16-2010, 06:07 PM

In other news......Local exterminator arrested by railroad detectives in theft of material. Terrorist links investigated after lethal chemicals are found in his vehicle.

**crashdive123** · 03-16-2010, 06:10 PM

Well - there's that - I suppose.

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 03-16-2010, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by crashdive123

CS - I was thinkign about this thread today as I finished up a termite treatment and was driving near some railroad tracks where they had replaced a bunch of the ties. I had a few minutes, so stopped. Found about a dozen spikes in 10 minutes. I'll have to go back when I have a little more time. Thanks for the inspiration.

Well you got some excersize anyhow. What do you plan to do with them? LOL

**crashdive123** · 03-16-2010, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by COWBOYSURVIVAL

Well you got some excersize anyhow. What do you plan to do with them? LOL

I haven't tried may hand at it yet, but I did pick up an anvil a while back. Other than that I really don't have the proper tools (hasn't stopped me in the past). Hopefully something that resembles a knife when I do start hammering (Jason - get your mind out of the gutter).

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 03-16-2010, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by crashdive123

I haven't tried may hand at it yet, but I did pick up an anvil a while back. Other than that I really don't have the proper tools (hasn't stopped me in the past). Hopefully something that resembles a knife when I do start hammering (Jason - get your mind out of the gutter).

I figure even though the carbon content is low, they'll make good practice, or just decoration! I still need an anvil myself the last forging I did was on my vice. Harder than the smiths make it look for sure. Some have higher carbon than others...if your going to put that amount of work into a knife maybe do a spark test on all 12?

**crashdive123** · 03-16-2010, 06:28 PM

For now - this will just be to figure out the how-to part of it. Just another step in the learning process.

**randyt** · 03-16-2010, 08:19 PM

when a fella comes across free steel knives and sharpies are the first thing to come to mind. but i seen a cool coat rack made from railroad spikes, a red cedar post with three legs on the bottom and the spikes hammered in at a angle. maybe it was a hat rack but it was kinda neat nevertheless.

**COWBOYSURVIVAL** · 03-16-2010, 08:27 PM

Originally Posted by randyt

when a fella comes across free steel knives and sharpies are the first thing to come to mind. but i seen a cool coat rack made from railroad spikes, a red cedar post with three legs on the bottom and the spikes hammered in at a angle. maybe it was a hat rack but it was kinda neat nevertheless.

Save one, these will be a hat rack/tack rack Lol I have hats and tack everywhere!