Found an old railroad spike knife...

M

MarsHillPicker

Joined
Apr 23, 2017
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Hi yall! This is my first post,but like many boys I've loved knives since I got my first folder when I was around 7. Recently I have gotten into "treasure hunting", most of what I find is trash but not everything. I got permission to sift through an old barn that fell over recently up the road from my house, and among other things, I found what appears to be a partially finished railroad spike knife. The lady who owns the property said Noone has worked in the shed in 25-30 years. She did say her husband had made a few knives, tools etc. in the past, and that it was probably one of his. I just fell in love with this thing and I would like to shape the blade a little more towards the point and get a decent 600-800 grit finish on it, I'm just not one for mirror finish. I think this knife is pretty old and handmade in America. Honestly I would like to leave it as is, as possible, but usable for me to carry and show. It already has a decent edge on it, rough but pretty sharp. I only have a dremel ,angle grinder and a hand drill available, but I've got some elbow grease to spare and I hear I can work with sand paper by hand. I have some 100 grit on hand and 400,600,800,1000 up to 2500 grit coming in the mail. Is it OK to start with the 100 grit? There are what looks like file or grinder marks on the blade. I just want a decent looking,usable old knife that shows its age while functioning and looking well. Any advice is appreciated. I have a little experience with making jewelry,so I have buffed and polished as well as a few other techniques that may be useful. I am having trouble figuring out how to add pics, but i do have some available to share.Thanks in advance for any advice!
 
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Railway spikeknives are classic tinkerers folkart & great fun.
Can be a great letter opener, but wont be even mediocre as a knife.
Anyway, I suggest without access to powertools, use files to re-shape & smooth its roughness, then go with sandpaper to finish.
 
I just found a few files in my toolbox, I will start there. I may actually just leave this as is if I have no hope of creating a useful knife in the sense we are speaking. Alot of what I do in the woods is foraging and it doesn't take much strength or sharpness to cleanly cut mushrooms or other tender plants. I also ruin alot of blade tips digging bits of rock and dirt from around the base of certain roots I look for. I may just sharpen its already sharpish edge and leave the tip blunt, it could be a useful tool to me,and possibly save the blades of my nicer, expensive knives. I appreciate your help very much sir.
 
While a RR spike doesn't make a "great" knife, but with proper HT they can be sharpen enough to shave arm hair. Might not hold the edge long time.
 
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