Will a railroad spike make a good knife?

Railroad spikes are sturdy pieces of metal that have been used for centuries to secure railroad tracks. Their availability and durability have led some people to wonder if they could be repurposed into makeshift knives. While this may seem like a clever recycling idea, there are several important factors to consider before attempting to turn a railroad spike into a usable blade.

Can a railroad spike be shaped into a knife?

Physically speaking, a railroad spike could be ground and sharpened into a crude knife shape. Railroad spikes are typically made from medium to high carbon steel for strength and durability. This type of steel can be machined and sharpened using grinding wheels or other abrasive tools. However, shaping a railroad spike by hand would require a lot of time and effort. The existing shape is not ideal for a blade and contains bulky sections that would need to be meticulously ground down.

Would the steel hold an edge?

The ability of a knife to hold a sharp edge depends on the hardness of the steel. In general, higher carbon steels can be heat treated to higher hardness levels than lower carbon steels. Railroad spikes typically contain 0.7% to 1% carbon content, giving them medium hardness capabilities. With proper heat treatment, a railroad spike could potentially be hardened to hold an edge. However, keep in mind that knife blade steels often contain additional alloying elements like chromium, vanadium, and molybdenum to optimize edge retention. The simple carbon steel in railroad spikes falls short of premium cutlery steels in this regard.

Can the railroad spike be properly heat treated?

For a railroad spike to achieve optimal hardness, it would need to go through specialized heat treatment processes. This involves heating the steel to a precise temperature, quenching it to harden the steel, and tempering it to reduce brittleness. Doing this correctly requires specialized equipment and skills. Attempting to harden a railroad spike over a basic forge or torch would likely result in an uneven heat treatment rife with soft spots.

What kind of cutting performance could be expected?

Assuming the railroad spike knife achieves decent hardness through heat treatment, it still would not perform as well as a purpose-built knife. The shape is far from ideal for cutting tasks like slicing, paring, or carving. The thick cross section would also prevent thin, acute edges required for a high performance blade. Realistically, a railroad spike knife would only be capable of crude cutting and chopping tasks. Edge retention and corrosion resistance would also be inferior to standard cutlery.

Could the handle be comfortably shaped?

Knife handles need to fit comfortably and securely in the hand. This requires carefully contouring to suit hand anatomy. Railroad spikes have a basic cylindrical shaft that would sit awkwardly in the hand. While it may be possible to grind and shape the handle into something more comfortable, this would be extremely labor intensive. The handle would also need holes or other means to attach scales or handle slabs. Overall, fabricating a usable handle is one of the biggest challenges of the railroad spike knife concept.

What about safety factors?

Any tool used as an improvised weapon raises safety concerns as well. Railroad spikes were not designed with safety features like finger guards or rounded spines. The exposed metal head and sharp edges pose laceration risks for the maker and user. Proper safety gear like gloves and eye protection would be essential when grinding the steel. Transport and carrying also raises risks without a protective sheath. Practically speaking, a purpose-built knife is far safer thanks to optimized ergonomic design.

In summary, could a railroad spike work as a knife?

While it may be possible to shape a crude knife from a railroad spike, it would require a great deal of time, effort, skill, and resources to potentially produce a subpar result. The steel can technically be hardened but lacks alloys for ideal blade performance. The ergonomics and safety factors also pose additional downsides. For these reasons, a railroad spike is better suited for its original purpose instead of an improvised knife blade.

Alternatives if a knife is needed

Rather than struggle to fabricate an improvised railroad spike knife, there are several excellent alternatives if you find yourself needing a blade:

• Purchase an inexpensive but quality pocket knife or multi-tool for basic utility purposes.
• Buy a blank knife blade that just needs handle scales or wrapping.
• Use scrap steel like leaf/coil springs, files, or saw blades if forging a blade from scratch.
• Upcycle a used straight razor for a compact fixed blade.
• Fashion a simple blade from wood, obsidian, or other natural materials.

These options provide a much safer and more effective result than attempting to modify a railroad spike. Quality knives and tools should be trusted for important cutting tasks where performance and safety matter.

Table comparing railroad spike knives to purpose-built knives

Factor	Railroad Spike Knife	Purpose-Built Knife
Shaping Effort	Very high – requires extensive grinding and shaping from a crude starting form	Low – blade is already properly profiled and shaped
Steel Type	Medium to high carbon non-alloy steel	Alloyed cutlery steels with optimal edge retention properties
Heat Treatment	Difficult – requires precise tempering unlikely without proper equipment	Already heat treated for ideal hardness from the manufacturer
Cutting Performance	Poor – too thick for acute edges and precision cutting	Excellent – thin blade ground for agility and slicing ability
Ergonomics	Poor – retains basic cylindrical railroad spike shape	Excellent – shaped handles that fit the hand securely
Safety	Poor – lacks guards and rounded edges	Excellent – handles and guards prevent hand slipping

As this table illustrates, a purpose-built knife outperforms a railroad spike knife in every category. Investing in a quality premade knife is by far the best option for performance, safety, and ease of use.

The bottom line

Trying to forge a knife from a random piece of metal like a railroad spike may seem like an intriguing challenge. However, the final result is unlikely to perform as well as even an inexpensive purpose-built knife. The railroad spike’s shape and material properties mean you’ll always be working against the base object. With subpar cutting ability, comfort, and safety, a railroad spike knife ultimately serves more as a novelty item or display project rather than a practical cutting tool. Those needing a real durable knife are better served purchasing a quality one made by a reputable knifemaker.