A Magic All In One Tool?

Now dont get me wrong! I havent used this "tool" for ages but as a kid I used it ALL the time playing in the woods for so many things I thought Id See what you all thought about it. Tho I do know that as a kid you find things more amazing and fantastical then what they really are but this may have some weight to it.

I remember Using it to Dig holes, Hammer stakes, Break rocks, Stake down things, Make Weapons out of (IE Spears and such) Using as a weight to throw Rope over Branches, Using it to cut roots and other plants of the same nature, A Hammer in general, and plenty of other things Im sure I am forgetting.

So what is it???? A Railroad spike! yep Big heavy and solid metal but 100% awesome in my opinion. How practical it is vs weight is now a major question to me as an adult but Im sure if I was Bugging out in a Vehicle Id bring my 2 spikes along.

My grandparent's farm was bordered by a rail line, Frisket, and I LOVED railway spikes. Like you, they fueled my imagination and I used them regularly for just about anything. I've nevered considered it as a tool as a grown-up but think you might be onto something!

I think a heavy fixed blade with a hammering end will do the same and even more. Unfortunately there are not so many such knifes available (I can't google anything similar to the Bear Gryll's fix.blade design, which I like a lot, but I don't like that it is breaking easily).

Probably people just don't like to carry heavy knifes. Plus, there is some weird theory about a must have balance of the knife which is usually lead to a lightweight handle designs.

Perhaps a solid steel piece knife with some rubber coating over the handle (the shape of a butter knife with beefy handle) would have the same properties as a RR spike. But I never saw anything like that. The popular prybar designs are getting close to this concept, but still they don't have hammering handle feature or it's not worth mentioning.

I'd like to have something like this:

Well One good thing about railroad spikes is they are "Free" Often if you walk a rail line there are a bunch laying along the tracks. Usually they are the ones that get replaced and often chucked aside but often or not they are just loose spikes that worked their way over. A little Sanding/Grinding and they often clean up like new. The end also can easily be ground out sharp just remember to throw some rustoleum on um.

The caveman comparison is still somewhat fitting. When I was 9-10 years old, we lived close to some railroad tracks and there were always old spikes along side the rails. We would take these spikes and use them for any purpose that suited our collective imaginations on any given day. Then on one almost fateful day, a couple of slightly older and bigger guys decided to tie the spikes to some rope lengths as pretend weapons and started swinging them around, over their heads etc.

One friend who wasn't not paying full and due attention unknowingly walked into the path of a swinging spike and was promptly clocked in the head from a swinging spike. He literally took an instant dirt nap (knocked out...but we thought he was dead.) Long story short, luckily no permanent damage was done however he spent 2 days in the hospital, received about 20 stitches and suffered a summer vacation ending concussion.

It's all but impossible to walk past a loose (discarded) railway spike and not pick it up. You may toss it later, but there's something magical in the heft -- and history -- of these items.

In terms of their metallurgy, my understanding is that spikes are pretty low carbon. That makes sense; you wouldn't want one to fracture the rail while pounding or snap off during stress or cold and leave a rail loose. Blacksmiths like to play with them as "found materials" but they have the means to work more carbon into the steel to make a passable cutting edge.

But they're still fun to play with as rough hammers and general conversation pieces.

I grew up 2 blocks from 2 railways, but never once considered playing around them. So I have no idea what you're talking about.


That being said, I don't think "railway spike" is on the TSA list.... loophole!

I thought this thread was going to be a redo of the Chinese Mililtary Shovel.

I like a medium, thick bladed knife for the same purpose ( warthog or quartermaster)

Still a neat shovel

I have forged them. afte red hot heating, twisted the shank above the head and drawn them out into "letter openers", ie more like office survival tools (Denny Crane, ie,... Boston Legal, ha ha). I even did a Marine version with a K-bar saw tooth on the back side.

They look pretty awesome. The top one in the pics has the best aesthetic.

Ironwood

http://www.forestryforum.com/gallery/displayimage.php?album=603&pos=2

The regular ones are about only 0.1% carbon, the ones labeled HC goes up to 0.3% or so, both too low to be hardened properly for anything with an edge. I've seen a few tomahawks made with them but they have piece of 1095 inserted for edge.

I have a few lying around, wish I had a forge to make something out of them, 1095 is pretty cheap to buy.