pierced spike tomahawk WIP

[R.D.Metcalf]

This is a project I started this morning from a RR spike on a charcoal fire, I'm hoping the head will carborize some, this 'hawk has a 3 1/2" cutting edge, a small weeping heart pierced about 3/4" from the cutting edge. I still have to draw out the poll a bit, punch the eye, get some file work done and get it fitted to a curly maple handle.

The pic below is where I'm at so far.

[Peter Remling]

That's going to look very cool!

[kaelln]

A tomahawk from a railroad spike - that's gonna be sweet!

[Mirimaran]

Awesome! We will have need of goodly steel, I fear!

[Greg]

Most excellent! I like seeing an axe "coming out" of a railroad spike; it's a cool image.

[Dinendir.]

I do admit, it's very striking. And a resourceful use of iron, at that.

I can't wait to see the finished project.
What you gonna use for the handle?

[R.D.Metcalf]

Many thanks guys, originally I was goin to go with a curly maple handle I buy my handle blanks from these folk: http://sharpslumber.com/curlymaple.html I bought 8 feet of 2"x2" specifically for handles but I think I'm goin with some hickory heartwood for this'un...I still need to get an eye punched out...which I'm dreading because I should've done that first, so I hope that oversight dont end up costing me in the long run....Usually the eye establishes the flow of the head to the cutting edge. We'll see....

[Dinendir.]

Have faith, it'll turn out good, I hope.
If not, I can send you another railroad spike. I have one or two laying around.

And I like the hickory heartwood, but the color of the curly maple is a favorite of mine.

[R.D.Metcalf]

Many thanks for the offer sir, but I've prob'ly got 300+ spikes and at least that many RR clips layin around, my step brother picks them up everytime we go fishing, the RR runs right along side the river, he usually loses interest in fishin and goes spike huntin

I agree with you on curly maple,sir, its my favorite wood to work with, actually thats why I buy from Sharps Lumber, despite a runnin argument with a gunsmith friend of mine I think New England and Canadian Red and Sugar maple are distinguishable from those same species of tree harvested further south....They are just prettier in my opinion and they seem to be harder.

[Dinendir.]

Always happy to help.


In all honesty, I've never handled those. Just the curly maple, as that's what I chose to finish a machete of mine. I fell in love with the color.