yep that is what i have read i know there are some people who claim to be able to but as i am quite new to blacksmithing its not something i have ever had happen.

Tim

Wow. . . so a guy on the forum does something very cheritable, thoughtful, and obviously within the wishes of the family. . . yet most of you are critical?

So just to touch up on this, (yes from a legal stand point) no court is going to try and hold someone for picking up a single rail road spike and forging it into a knife to be given to a child fighting cancer. Reread the post and the childs grandfather is a judge. . . the local AUSA would move for prosecution (and even thats a stretch,) and what do you think a judge is going to say? "yea sure lets clog the system with a crime like picking up a rail road spike. . . seems like a good way to burn through resources." Either some of you are reading too far in or dont have too much legal knowledge (in the sense of day to day work, not what you read on paper).

I say thank you, on behalf of the good of the forum. What you are doing is very note worthy and in good taste. Obvisouly you are involving the parents and keeping abreast with their wishes. . . I say carry on and share some pics when you present it to him. I'd love to see his smile when you give him such an awesome gift.

People have been prosecuted for doing exactly this. This is a world wide forum, and not all the people live in the same place you do. Other places have different laws.

This forum attempts to stay with in the legal. If the OP or you had read the other parts of the forum, you and he would have seen the posts about RR laws. The comments made were to help avoid legal entanglements.

You may wish to get your facts straight before making a post telling people its ok to violate laws. Yes its a nice thing to make a gift, but do it legally.