Hello I am 15 years old and I'm a beginning blacksmith. I've always liked knives so it seemed fitting that I would make a knife as one of my first projects. I looked online to see some examples of railroad spike knives and all of the are left kind of rustic looking. That's why I decided to do a nice polished look. I didn't have a vise set up at the time I made it so I didn't put a twist of any kind in the handle. I just want to know what people think of this shape and style. Any opinions at all are greatly appreciated. Thank you.

No one ever said it had to have a twist. No one ever said you had to use a vise to make a twist.

Do not build a box by saying you cant. Sure as you build that box you CAN NOT get outside the box or the job done. Do not build a box and everything is a possibility, some working better than others.  

For instance, cut a hole or slot to put the blade into (vise) and use a wrench to turn the square section of the stock.

Grab a couple of adjustable wrenches or two wrenches that fit on the stock. Hold one and twist with the other. This is easier if you put one of the wrenches on the edge of a table and hold the wrench against the edge of the table while you twist with the other wrench.

See if the blade will fit into the hardie hole of the anvil. If so, use a wedge to hold it firmly in place. Use a wrench, adjustable wrench, pipe wrench, or bending fork type tool to make the twist.

Lots of ways, choose what works for you.

Edited October 20, 201510 yr by Glenn

That's a good Idea, I just say that because doing a twist would be incredibly hard to keep straight by hand. Doing it with two wrenches would work but I don't think I could keep it straight. Besides it feels good in my hand and fits well as is. I'm happy with the way the handle turned out. 

Your a blacksmith, its all "by hand" or you would be a machinest. If it aint strait, straiten it. Still dont like it? Curve it. Smithes got by for a cuple thousand years with out post or machinests vices and they did a lot of twists. 

This topic is closed at Brian's request.