{"product_id":"blacksmith-forged-spike-knife-bushcraft-blade","title":"Blacksmith Forged Spike Knife with Drop Point and Leather Sheath","description":"\u003ch2\u003eWhat Is Our Blacksmith Forged Spike Knife?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur Blacksmith Forged Spike Knife is drawn out by hand from a single high carbon railroad spike. The blade is short and thick with a deep belly and a drop point, the grip carries forged rings for purchase, and the flats keep the scale left by the fire.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe knife measures approximately 8.5 inches overall with a 3.75 inch blade. A handmade leather sheath is included.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Is a Spike Forged Into a Blade?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA railway spike arrives as a square bar with a flattened head on one end. Turning it into a knife is a drawing operation, which means moving steel rather than cutting it away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bar goes into the fire and comes out at forging heat, then gets hammered thinner and longer over the anvil. Steel does not compress, so every blow that thins the bar also lengthens it. The blade section spreads out and flattens, the wider belly forming where the steel has been worked most.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe grip section is left closer to its original square section and given rings by hammering into a groove, which raises ridges that give the hand something to hold. The head at the far end is left as it came, which is why it reads as a pommel rather than a shaped fitting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEverything after that is grinding the bevel, heat treating, and finishing. The pattern of scale and hammer marks across each piece is a record of where the steel moved, which is why two spikes worked the same way still come out looking different.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat Are the Specifications?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSpecification\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eProduct Detail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSteel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHigh carbon railroad spike, forged\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade Length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApproximately 3.75 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOverall Length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApproximately 8.5 inches\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBlade Profile\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSingle edged drop point with deep belly\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFinish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eForge scale on the flats, ground bevel\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntegral forged grip with ring texture\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCorrosion Resistance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNone. Carbon steel, requires drying and oiling\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIncludes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHandmade leather sheath\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePersonalization\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEngraving available at checkout\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDimensions vary slightly between pieces because every spike draws out differently under the hammer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat Is a Short Thick Blade Good For?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnder four inches of edge on a stocky blade is a specific tool, and knowing what it suits saves disappointment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere it works.\u003c\/strong\u003e Short blades give control. The tip stays close to your hand, so detail work, notching, feathering a stick for tinder, and cutting cord all happen where you can see and feel them. The deep belly carries most of the cutting edge into a curve, which is what you want for any slicing stroke where you roll the blade through the material. Thick stock behind the edge takes lateral load without flexing, so light prying and twisting will not damage it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere it does not.\u003c\/strong\u003e Short and thick is the wrong combination for long slicing cuts, for anything requiring reach, and for chopping, since there is not enough blade or forward mass to carry momentum. The thick grind also means it will not slice as finely as a thin kitchen blade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe practical read: a camp and belt knife for close work, not a chopper and not a slicer. Anyone needing reach and chopping weight should see our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.stagsteelknives.com\/collections\/damascus-bowie-knives\"\u003eDamascus Bowie knives collection\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Do the Forged Rings Matter?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn integral steel grip has a problem: bare steel is slick, and there are no scales to add texture. Hammering rings into the grip section solves it by raising ridges that your fingers register against, so the hand locates the same way each time and the knife does not rotate under a hard cut.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe flattened head at the butt does the second half of the job. It stops the hand sliding backward off the grip, and it puts mass behind the palm, which pulls the balance point back from the blade.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBear in mind that a steel grip runs cold in cold weather and transmits shock straight to the hand rather than dampening it. Gloves or a wrap make a noticeable difference in winter. Anyone who wants a wooden handle with a natural grip should look at our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.stagsteelknives.com\/products\/nordic-hunting-knife-1095-carved-handle-leather-sheath\"\u003eNordic hunting knife with a carved handle\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat Is the Scale on the Steel?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dark surface across the grip and the blade flats is forge scale, the oxide layer that forms on steel at forging heat. Leaving it on rather than grinding it away keeps the record of the forging visible and gives the piece its texture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eScale is a working finish. It slows corrosion where it sits, since the oxide is more chemically stable than bare steel, and it wears back gradually with use. Patchiness and thinning over months is expected rather than a fault.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Should You Care for It?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is no chromium in this steel, so there is no rust resistance at all. Wipe the blade after use and dry it fully. Wash with mild soap and warm water when needed, then dry immediately, since an hour of standing water is enough to start a spot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKeep a thin coat of food-safe mineral oil on the blade, and reapply before storage. Wash gently, because abrasive pads strip scale faster than cutting does. Store the knife dry and out of its sheath, since leather holds humidity against steel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDarkening with use is patina and it protects the steel. Reddish-brown powder that rubs off is rust and needs removing with a mild abrasive. Sharpen when the edge stops biting, using our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.stagsteelknives.com\/blogs\/blog-posts\/best-way-to-sharpen-a-knife\"\u003eknife sharpening guide\u003c\/a\u003e. Spike steel comes back quickly on an ordinary stone. Our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.stagsteelknives.com\/blogs\/blog-posts\/what-is-the-best-steel-for-knives\"\u003eknife steel guide\u003c\/a\u003e explains why, and what that means for how long the edge lasts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade arrives sharp. Open the package carefully and keep the knife out of reach of children.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy Choose Our Forged Spike Knife?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose our spike knife for its hand-drawn forging, short controllable drop point, deep belly, thick stock that shrugs off lateral load, forged grip rings, forge-scale finish, and handmade leather sheath.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEvery piece is forged by hand in Fredericton, New Brunswick, where we have been making knives since 2001. Collectors interested in the origin of the steel and the salvage story should see our \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.stagsteelknives.com\/products\/railroad-spike-knife-hand-forged-leather-sheath\"\u003erailroad\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Stag Steel Knives","offers":[{"title":"Knife without Engraving","offer_id":47855774826684,"sku":"0260","price":133.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Knife with Engraving","offer_id":47855774859452,"sku":"0260-1","price":153.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/4621\/4332\/files\/Blacksmith_Forged_Spike_Knife_Bushcraft_Camp_Blade.webp?v=1789985707","url":"https:\/\/www.stagsteelknives.com\/products\/blacksmith-forged-spike-knife-bushcraft-blade","provider":"Stag Steel Knives","version":"1.0","type":"link"}