Railroad spike knives: a fun first project and why they are terrible knives

Spikes marked HC ("high carbon") are about 0.3% carbon, which is not knife steel; they will not hold an edge no matter how you heat treat them. But they are free, forgiving, and a great way to learn drawing out a blade, forming a point, and twisting a handle. Make a letter opener or a wall-hanger, not your camp knife.

Technique: forge the tip first, draw the blade out on the edge of the anvil, keep the spine thick until last, twist the handle hot with a wrench, and quench in oil mostly for the look. Then make the same knife from a leaf spring or 1084 and feel the difference.