Educate me!

[Terrill]

I just noticed the forum and know there has to be a "spike" hawk expert on here somewhere. When making hawks made from railroad spikes, is there a difference between the spikes that you can use?
I picked up about a dozen this past weekend just walking along a bit of track and just wondered.

 

[Brian C]

Terrill, in case you didn't see it, here's a hawk of mine that Bill Buxton made from a RR spike.

I imagine he'll be along to answer your questions.

 

[Hoplophile]

YES!!! Use only spikes marked HC for high carbon. Or if you are going to use another type of steel like 5160, 1095, 1084, 1075 for just the bit, regular RR spikes should be ok. Also the torsion bars from old cars can be used to. They are usually 5160. Look for old Plymouths and Dodges. Valiants and Darts.
Are you going to wrap, or cut the eye?
Go over to shoptalk and do a search on hawks and spikes. There have been several discussions on using RR Spikes for knives and hawks.
Good luck, We're all counting on you.

 

[B . Buxton]

Terrill,

I'm no expert, but I have made several hawks from RR spikes, I have heard that the spikes with HC stamped on the head are the best, the HC is suspose to mean high carbon, but I don't think it does, I was told by a guy that the HC meant Hartford,Conn and that was where the spike was made and that made more sence to me. But the HC stamped spikes are probably newer made spikes and there for might have a higher carbon count, I've used them with and without the HC and they all act about the same to me. So fire up and have fun.

Hope this helped

Bill