Playing With Fire.

[merl67]

I been learning to smith a few weeks now had a few of these around so decided to use them to practice moving metal. I did not expect them to harden up, but to my surprise they did. They are now very sharp. I realize they are more of a novelty, but ever since I saw a guy at Dollywood making them I wanted to try. Here is also one I made from a piece of W2 steel.

[H Richard]

You should watch the TV show "Forged In Fie", Very interesting what and how they have contestant do, and the knives they make.

[steelslaver]

Rail road spikes sometimes have about .5% carbon. While not enough to get really hard they will harden. I have made several spike knives. I use soapy salt water to harden them. that would probably make high carbon snap but will get you as much as possible from lower carbon stuff.