7carson7 Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Im looking to make a knife out of a come along handle, Anyone know what steel they are typically made of? Its old school Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irondragon Forge ClayWorks Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Welcome to the insanity. Have you read this yet? READ THIS FIRST It will help you get the best out of the forum. If you edit your profile to show your location, you may be surprised how many members are near you and could offer advice. The only way to tell if the handle will make a good blade will be to test it to see if it will harden. I wouldn't waste my time because I doubt it will be any good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pnut Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 (edited) I couldn't imagine it would be more than medium carbon at the very best and probably closer to low carbon steel. Spark test it and try hardening a piece. Pnut Edited October 24, 2019 by pnut double post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dasher Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 I agree with pnut, most likely mild steal, pressed metal or aluminium, come along handles a generally short of length , with all the work being done by the geared mechanical advantage, I've seen them bent, broken and abused and nothing leads me to think they are made of anything of note. As a side note, whether by design or coincidence, comalongs are hard to break or damage when used correctly and to it's rating, but you add a "cheater bar" to the handle for a bit of extra grunt, and you will kill it very quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 WARNING! come-along handles are often plated. Putting plated steel in the forge can put you in the hospital or even can KILL YOU. (Each has happened to friends of mine! The first was a 19 year old kid who ended up with a week long hospital bill; killed his hopes of self employment. The second; well, I gave the parting toast for him at Quad-State that year.) Why not use a piece of leaf spring or coil spring from an Auto? They are generally both good for knives and free if you know any mechanics or if you ask at a small shop. I can pick them up for 20 US cents a pound at my local scrapyard. If you are near Socorro NM; let me know and I'll give you a coil spring this Saturday. My mechanic said I could have anything in his scrap pile---several tons of metal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7carson7 Posted October 24, 2019 Author Share Posted October 24, 2019 Thank you all, Ill have to do some testing when im back at the shop. And to thomasPowers, It is not plated, It was originally painted yellow and is extremely rusted, And my shop is very well ventilated. And as for the reason I want to forged this. I just want to have fun really.. I just wanted to make things out of something that you wouldn't expect, This will be my knife so if its a mild steel ill forged it to put up somewhere. Thanks everyone for the help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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