The Club and Improvised weapons thread (Post your Handy work!)

Alright. Photo bucket won't let me upload pics. It keeps saying failed check stack. WTH does that mean?
 
Maintenance, I betcha. A while back it was saying all my pics were gone. Next day they were all back up.

Makes me want to switch, but with so many photos invested... *shrug*, what can I do?
 
Danish oil or tung oil give a smooth finish. Of course you must sand the cat "P" outta the staff, working toward the finest grit, and then sand a few hours more. Once properly sanded begin applying the oil with a rag ( rags are combustible so soak the used ones in a container of water). Let dry for a day or two, and then buff it smooth with 0000 steel wool. Repeat several times, always buffing with the 4 ott, after a couple weeks it shines. Wax if desired and done.
 
Working on a rail road spike knife right now. Almost done with the forging, then comes the grinding.

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Nice.

I've thought about doing one, but it's not as easy to find the higher carbon spikes as one might think. Around here most of the time all I find are low carbon spikes, so anything made from them can't be hardened.
 
Even the so-called high carbon spikes can't truly be hardened. But it's a fun exercise and the knife can still be useful.
 
Square_peg said:
Even the so-called high carbon spikes can't truly be hardened. But it's a fun exercise and the knife can still be useful.
Click to expand...
Yup, either as letter opener or a stabby thing 😝

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The "High Carbon" railroad spikes have a maximum allowed carbon content of 0.30%. This makes it essentially A36, or at least very similar, as A36 has a Carbon range of 0.25% to 0.29%. A chart I found a while back lists the break down of A36 usage. The thinner stock has only a trace of manganese, where the thicker stocks vary between .8% and 1.2%

3/4" and under - 0.25%
Over 3/4" to 1-1/2" - 0.25%
Over 1-1/2" to 2-1/2" - 0.26%
Over 2-1/2" to 4" - 0.27%
Over 4" - 0.29%


A36 is called "mild steel" and is usually what the steel billets at Lowes or Home Depot are. The lower carbon content prevents brittleness. A statement I saw a while back on the internet about the subject said that the railroads want steel that bends, not breaks. "A bent spike will still hold rails. A broken spike will not." Or words to that effect. :D

I use a lot of A36 for prototyping my knives. It's a lot cheaper than any "real knife steel" and I can figure out balance points, overall weight, tang/handle thickness, etc. Some folks can figure that stuff out with mathematical equations, but not me. :D I need to hold it in my hands and make determinations and changes by hand/eyeball.

The "low carbon" railroad spikes have a maximum allowed carbon content of 0.12% carbon, so it's really soft.
 
The best thing is, those are all craftsman wrenches are covered by the warranty. (I'm gonna bring back the chopped wrenches.)
 
JohnnyMayhem said:
The best thing is, those are all craftsman wrenches are covered by the warranty. (I'm gonna bring back the chopped wrenches.)
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I had a friend who would take a torch and bend them to fit in to where he was working, get done with the project, and bring the bent one back and exchange it in store for a new one
 
These in the pics have been widely used, and carried during years, did them when I was younger, had wilder thoughts and much free time... :D

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Being so cheap, and easy to find, many lengths and sizes available. They're the classic cheap bonebreakers.

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You can try the one that best fits your strength and body size

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Easily replaceable, and not hard to conceal or carry (I have made some "belt attachments" with hard plastics and a hot air gun, darn efective

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And also important: they are disposable, use and throw

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Steel is stronger than bone, always. Wood is nice to practice and check for vibrations hurting your hand/compromising grip

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Really quick handles work just fine, and you can find the tape/wrapping for $1 at any convenience store or wallmart...
 
The only problem with such is that it's very hard to keep your fingerprints off the tape used in making the handle.
 
Love this thread. Thought I should make my own contribution. I just wanted to make something wicked and dangerous one day.
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[video]https://youtu.be/vry7LamO9tw[/video]
 
trogdorr said:
Love this thread. Thought I should make my own contribution. I just wanted to make something wicked and dangerous one day.
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[video]https://youtu.be/vry7LamO9tw[/video]
Click to expand...

Great looking head, but the attachment part could use some work! i picture it tearing out quite rapidely with intense use!
 
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