Forged RR spike tomahawk

butchesforge

butchesforge

Joined
Nov 16, 2005
Messages
1,880
I don't know how many of you guys who forge have made one of these... if you have you know what a PIA they are.I have to do one now and then just to irritate myself...here are some pics..Thanks Regards Butch

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By rsilver4 at 2011-09-09



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By rsilver4 at 2011-09-09

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By rsilver4 at 2011-09-09

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By rsilver4 at 2011-09-09
 
Beautifully shaped head Butch and I love the "stippled" bands at the grip. Did you use a hot rasp for the stippling? Really clean looking.

Best regards

Robin
 
Thank you Robin,you really have to upset the spike to get enough material for the blade 5/8" to about 3/4" and yes I used a hot rasp on the haft----


Pipeman said:
Beautifully shaped head Butch and I love the "stippled" bands at the grip. Did you use a hot rasp for the stippling? Really clean looking.

Best regards

Robin
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Fine looking hawk. Such cleans lines for a railroad spike, those usually look rough. Well done!
 
I know exactly how much aggrevation they are..5/8" isnt much le-way when it comes to splitting and drifting for an eye socket..Last year we had to make three of the stupid things at one time for a trade with my buddy who owns a scrapyard..
Theres just so little material everything has to be perfect. No room for error at all..
 
There you have it-thanks Phillip,the eye is the key,off a little toss it----did you find a power hammer yet?
 
Yea, we finally did..Bought a LG off of Danny Downs. An industrial blacksmith out of Louisville.A real good guy and had the most amazing smithy I had personally ever seen.Made my heart hurt at all the awsome stuff he had :D..
.
Theres just so little material to work with in spikes..If you get an eye off a little on bigger stuff you can usually fix it with some judicious forging, but not with those dang spikes..
Like you said, if its off just a little its scrap..That "tiny" bit its off turns into a mile by the time your done drifting the eye :grumpy:
LOL, I hauled off a load of scrap a couple weeks ago and I noticed when I emptied a bucket there must have been a half dozen old rusty spike hawks ruined in the bottom :p The real sucky thing is by the time you have realized you runied it you already have a lot of time wrapped up in it because you have to upset the spike before you ever start fooling with the eye..:rolleyes:
 
Thats great Phillip,it sure is going to make your life easier,me and Stu have been using our homemade tire hammers for quite a few years now..youre going to kick your own butt for not gettin one before now...you'll be able to do so much you couldn't before----so enjoy:-))
 
I have to do one now and then just to irritate myself.
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Mr. Butch, this phrase sums it up for RR spikes. Why can't we just leave them alone?
I have about a dozen in all stages of "they ain't gonna make it". But I keep trying them.
My Grandfather gave them to us as kids and said "that's good, cheap and plentiful iron, you can make anything with them" and we would heat and beat 'till our arms fell off and end up with a iron..... thing.
BUT I don't remember HIM ever using it!

Well Sir, your "hawk is beautiful and I do know the work and craftsmanship involved. Inspiring. Now I'll have to go beat on that aggravating steel some more. Maybe forge me a ...thing.........Randy
 
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I know Randy,I think we all go back to the time when we started beatin on iron and the first thing we wanted to do was a knife and like you said spikes are usually free and handy...I do apoligise for bringing this up again and causing recurring pain.but it feels so good when you get sweet revenge by gettin one right,though it takes 2 or 3 or 4...I do like what you have been doing with the primitive-apocalypse style----and why are you up so early on Sat. morning:-)
Regards Butch
 
I do like what you have been doing with the primitive-apocalypse style----and why are you up so early on Sat. morning:-)
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Thank you Sir. And I'm at work. I build trade show exhibits at realjob and during show season I'm here 70-90 hrs. a week. At 6:10 I had been here 2 hrs and into 2nd pot of caffeine..I check work e-mails every little while so I kinda sneak threw here.......Randy
 
church&son said:
Thank you Sir. And I'm at work. I build trade show exhibits at realjob and during show season I'm here 70-90 hrs. a week. At 6:10 I had been here 2 hrs and into 2nd pot of caffeine..I check work e-mails every little while so I kinda sneak threw here.......Randy
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I understand Randy,I forget what it's like to have a real job,I'm retired and don't usually have a plan when I get up (not too early)hope you get a break to play in the forge soon--Regards
 
I'm glad to hear someone point out how much these hawks can be a pain. The grinder is my best friend- the RR Spike hawk you posted has inspired me to finish a head that I though might be too light after truing up with grinder. LIGHT =SPEED, and we all know speed kills lol.
In a past thread about "favorite Makers" I missed a chance to say how much I enjoy the simple clean lines of your work. I also like the art pieces of Mr Chris John and Mr Steve's work . But as a user - everytime I see the cord wraps/ embelishments- I remember how dificult it is the clean deer fat off a hawk.
Thanks for posting pictures of your work.
 
A Visitor said:
I'm glad to hear someone point out how much these hawks can be a pain. The grinder is my best friend- the RR Spike hawk you posted has inspired me to finish a head that I though might be too light after truing up with grinder. LIGHT =SPEED, and we all know speed kills lol.
In a past thread about "favorite Makers" I missed a chance to say how much I enjoy the simple clean lines of your work. I also like the art pieces of Mr Chris John and Mr Steve's work . But as a user - everytime I see the cord wraps/ embelishments- I remember how dificult it is the clean deer fat off a hawk.
Thanks for posting pictures of your work.
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Thank you,yes it weighs just 9 ozs. inc. haft so they are not heavy weights by any means,and thanks for the kind words--- now get to work on that spike,don't let it win:-) !!!
 
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