Just a suggestion, Many are making knives out of RR spikes. They are great practice and look really cool. I admit i even make a few now and then. But do not discount some of the other steel available from the RR. The coil springs off the cars make great blades. Not sure what the steel is but it gives a killer Hamon. Tie clips are also a great source of steel. These are used to prevent the ties from sliding under the rail. They are 1" square and usually made of 1084. Gage bars are also made of 1084, they are used to ensure the track stays at the proper distance apart so the train does not go on the ground. If you live near a good RR yard check with one of the track gangs. They are more than happy to help out especially if you come bearing gifts.

Thanks Chuck
I was up at Siskiyou summit last week and there's a pile of plates and spikes with tie clips also, I picked up some spikes but will have to go back to get some clips, didn't know about them.
I think they have quit rail service over the summit.

Chuck

If you want to pick out a few samples of various RR steels here are a few pic's from my stash that the local rail repair yard keeps on hand for me.

followed me home - Blacksmith Photo Gallery
Followed me home - Blacksmith Photo Gallery
http://www.iforgeiron.com/gallery/data/500/medium/PICT0058.JPG

Pics?? nothing showing up. I worked for the RR for a couple years. I just found the yard here were we just moved to. I will be down there looking sometime. Here's my stash so far.....

Darn living on the most isolated islands in the world! I can't find any of that RR steel around here. Friends from IFI flat rate shipped spikes over to me for our high school blacksmith classes. I hope you guys know how good you have it.

Habu,

Looks like a track gang pile to me. Track bolts are good too. Most of the clips I see are the newer ones. I prefer the solid 1" square ones.

Phil,
Most isolated island???? Try living on ADAK. Just about as far from anywere as you can get. Don't call it the birthplace of the wind for nothing. However I did love the 3 years I spent there. I almost have it too good. Need to stop buying steel, yah right

Thanks for the tips on RR steel "stuff"

Chuck... I did some time on Adak also... But I was a little squirt of about 4 when we lived there... (1957-58) Pretty cool place as I remember. (pun intended). Then in 1959-60 we lived on Guam. Now that place was a blast for a 6 year old!!

I was a bit older. Was on Adak 87-90. Talk about the two extremes. Adak Then Guam both islands in the pacific. Other than that completely different.

Those coil springs from the RR trucks make excellent blades. I believe they are 5160. The big ones are a bit much for a hand hammer, though.

The 2 smaller springs in the picture are from trains. The larger of the 2 is 1" dia stock. That big single coil on the right it a 2.5"dia spring off a cat. It forges great with a power hammer and press. The train spring forges and HT's like 1070. Gives an interesting Hamon.