Just a hawk made from a railroad spike. Etched to a aged patina. Ive used files plenty of times before but I left the teeth on and it made a cool pattern along the welded bit. There are a few forge marks I left there intentionally. Curly maple handle burnt with muriatic acid then stained with leather dye.My crappy pics dont really do the haft justice..

very nice
i like the handle
and the file teeth

good job

Nice job on the handle and the file pattern on the back of the blade is well done too. It is a well done piece overall.
The pictures are in focus which is a big plus but the background is to busy, perhaps something plainer in the future would be better.

Someday I hope to be that good.
Excellent work IMHO

Very nice,Great job.

Thanks guys. S.Willis, Ill take this opportunity to say you make some of the nicest hawks Ive seen..

Thanks for the compliment, I think your making some of the nicest ones also.

That's a very nice hawk. I like everything about it.

I've made several hawks but never thought of using a railroad spike. Good job.

Thanks for the compliment, I think your making some of the nicest ones also.

Thanks very much:
.
BackWoodsCrafts
Spikes make a decent hawk but you have to upset the end of the spike an inch or so to have enough material for a decent blade. Since the spike isnt a very hard steel we like to weld a bit into it. We just split the end after its been upset and weld the bit in before we start forging. Now I will say you can get a railroad spike pretty dang hard by using Rob Gunters "Super quench"..A lot harder than a water quench.

Edited November 28, 200916 yr by KYBOY