guzzo Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 This is my first attempt at a Spike HAwk. I have learnt a lot (from all my mistakes) and will make lots of changes next time round. Getting heaps of good ideas off this site. One last thing....I hear rail spikes are quite low carbon and dont heat treat so well....this one I found all rusted on an old railway and had no markings. Anyhow I heated it up to non magnetic and quenched in oil and then tempered at 240 c for 2 hours and then cleaned it up and when i tried to sharpen it on my stone it is a lot harder than i expected...I had a basic edge after cleaning it up but it is as least as hard as a big bowie i made from 5160...is it possible very old spikes could have had higher carbon content than the newer ones? it was very rusty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longhunter Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Looks nice i like it dont know about the carbon content in older ones it's possible I guess I was always told that the carbon is lower in the spikes then what people really think worst case is you need to sharpen more often Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guzzo Posted March 13, 2012 Author Share Posted March 13, 2012 Looks nice i like it dont know about the carbon content in older ones it's possible I guess I was always told that the carbon is lower in the spikes then what people really think worst case is you need to sharpen more often That is what I have aso heard too. I have made quite a few knives from 5160 but this was my first try with anything from a spike and my first axe type thing ever. I was expecting something that would be more of a display thing but it quenched hard and a file glided right off . Anyhow I am going to have another go today with some 5160 and see how i go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nghtmrknife Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 i read some where that the spikes that have HC stamped in the top have a higher carbon content. But the old ones im not sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nghtmrknife Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 found a picture Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nghtmrknife Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 found a picture Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guzzo Posted March 28, 2012 Author Share Posted March 28, 2012 Thanks, The ones I had were all rusted out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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