1st railroad spike

[CagedSuperman]

First time hammering out, that’s why it’s half-arsed

https://imgur.com/a/J8xAgVb

 

[shane45-1911]

I am not sure I am a fan of the blade being upswept in relation to the centerline of the handle. It just looks odd.

Grind the spine parallel with the handle and I'd give you an "atta boy".

 

[CagedSuperman]

I’m not fond of half of what I do………

Everything seems like a good idea in your head till you do it.

 

[shane45-1911]

That doesn't mean you won't be the knife maker in demand 10 years from now! You'll find your groove thang.

 

[353]

First time hammering out, that’s why it’s half-arsed

https://imgur.com/a/J8xAgVb

Very nice grinding!

 

[POCEH KOCEB]

I am not sure I am a fan of the blade being upswept in relation to the centerline of the handle. It just looks odd.

I‘ll agree about the look but IMO it definitely have some advantages:

or this:

 

[POCEH KOCEB]

First time hammering out, that’s why it’s half-arsed

https://imgur.com/a/J8xAgVb

Looks very nice as the others said - compared your previous attempts!
I personally would put the thumb dip in the back little bit further forward but this is me, in fact I wouldn’t even do the dip because I never put my thumb on the spine.
Anyway, looks very nice, congrats !

 

[Bob Denman]

First time?
EXCELLENT!!

 

[IronRidgeOutdoors]

Nice and clean bevels. Looks decent for a spiker.

 

[strategy9]

I still have my first spike hammering attempt laying around, I'll post pics...
But as Denman said, for your very first time, that's awesome!!!

 

[strategy9]

My 1st rail spike... wife signed me up for a local forging workshop for my birthday a few years back.

Definitely not straight, or evenly pounded out, but I like it! Holds a special place in my accumulation...

 

[Mecha]

1 down, 2,499 to go.

 

[Joseph Bandeko]

1 down, 2,499 to go.

Now hold on! last time I checked you said it was 500 total...

 

[Mecha]

Now hold on! last time I checked you said it was 500 total...

It's 2500 now, if you use a hammer and heat. If you use your teeth to cold-forge them, then it's 500.

 

[Pinoy Knife]

not too bad .. id advise you to make it wider under the hammer first. then forge it more to shape . both the handle and blade
that way it is not just a thick chunk of steel when done.
you had it at forging temperature , beat the crap out of it with the peen section of the hammer to widen it out. flip the hammer over and get the shape
you have for it in your mind . including the rough handle shape . forge in the blade and bevels .. done..
been there done that !! been a few years since i pounded hot steel but the extra work would have only taken about 1/2 hour.

 

[weo]

not too bad .. but the extra work would have only taken about 1/2 hour.

There's a saying in the blacksmithing world that goes something like: "5 minutes at the anvil will save 30 minutes at the vice." (referring to filing/cleaning up)