do you know which kind of steel is used for the RR bolts? I found some and I'm wondering if it's a good idea to try to make knives from them. I read in the US they use the RR spikes getting medium quality knives. the steel of the bolts is close to the one of the spikes? I also noticed there are different numbers on the head of these bolts. what do they mean? are they referred to the steel used? perhaps the carbon content??? someone already tried this road?

Edited September 21, 200916 yr by mod07

As a general rule, my humble understanding is that bolts don't tend to have a high carbon content. Additionally, the threads on the bolts shown would need to be carefully ground off or otherwise removed so that they don't become cracks in the forged item.

What you have here are correctly called Coach Screw Spikes and they are intended to attach Tie Plates to Wood Ties. They are usually made from AISI 1045 or AISI 10B22.

These were likely made by my company, what is the Head Mark (letters on the heads)?

nitewatchman

The classic test of course is to heat above loss of magnetism and quench in water and then CAREFULLY try breaking one with a hammer---High C will be so brittle that shards can fly so EYE protection, leather apron, etc mandatory! If it shatters then it will probably make a decent knife.

As a safety measure when you try breaking the as quenched cupon, drape a heavy rag like a towel over it first to help control flying shards. (shrapnel)

Frosty

thank you for your help guys!

UnicornForge, if I'll decide to make a knife with these bolts I'll follow your suggestions to grind the thread to avoid cracks. I hate the cracks!!!!!!!!!

nitewatchman, tomorrow I'm going to take a pic of the heads and post it here so you will be able to check them.

Thomas and Frosty, ASAP I'll try the "breaching test" and I'll let you know the result.

here I am. the pic of my RR bolts. the first one has a rectangular head and "95", "S.S." on the round part of the head; "24 m UNI" on the rectangular part.
the others "SEI", "00" on the round part; "22 UNI" on the square part.

Edited September 21, 200916 yr by mod07

tell you what ... don't know about the bolts but those e-clips rock. have fun straightening them and pounding them into submission, but fine high-carbon steel - they made the hardest blade edges I've been able to come up with. nightwatchman once mentioned they can fall in the .80 - .95% range when I inquired about them.

Edited September 21, 200916 yr by overmodulated
grammer was too proper

yes, I know about the clips! actually I'm working on one of it. I streighten and flatted one. now I'm working to sand it flat. it seems really a good steel to me.
can you tell me how have I to heat treat my clip knife when it will be ready???
I assume I have to bring it to non-magnetic, quanch in the warm oil and temper it twice in an oven at 200

Edited September 21, 200916 yr by loneronin

you have the recipe! share pics when done

yes, I will post them but you need a lot of patience my friend!

btw, when I started with this clip I made a quick search and, usimg the numbers and letters on the clip, I find out the composition of the steel:

http://www.jysf-otw.com/ch/pdf/60Si2Mn.pdf

Edited September 22, 200916 yr by loneronin

The Coach Screw Spikes are not ours. They are sold by a domestic company but made in China. The material can be almost anything as long as it passes a tensile test and a bend test. We donot use this source due to the variability of the steel.

The chemistry of the steel tin the e-Clips sounds a little low for the carbon.

These are correctly called an E-2055 clip and were originally made by Pandrol until their patent expired. They are now widely copied in China and India with varing results.

I just realized you were in Italy, ignore what I have said as it applies to the US only.

I hate it when this happens.

no problem, I'm working on the clip and I'll forget the bolts!

ciao!