wilded
40 Cal.
Does anyone know when blacksmiths started using railroad spikes to forge tomahawks?
Railroad spike tomahawk???
- Thread starter wilded
- Start date
Help Support Muzzleloading Forum:
Guest
Probably right after they started making railroad spikes... 
You have to use ones marked WC or HC - if there is no "C" on it, it will not have enough carbon to harden.
You have to use ones marked WC or HC - if there is no "C" on it, it will not have enough carbon to harden.
The transcontinental railroad was started in 1863 and completed in 1869. As to how long railroad spikes had been around before that??? The earliest railroad bond (for constructing the Lockport & Niagra Line) was dated 1838.
And I wonder why a railroad spike would have been used? I've seen hawks made out of flattened sections of rifle barrels. I'm guessing spikes weren't used until after the civil war - when railroads became common where the metal would be scavanged by natives. Regular blacksmiths would have had other iron available, and trade hatchet and tomahawk heads were common items.
Here's an interesting site showing things made from railroad spikes.
http://www.lametalsmiths.org/news/index.htm
And I wonder why a railroad spike would have been used? I've seen hawks made out of flattened sections of rifle barrels. I'm guessing spikes weren't used until after the civil war - when railroads became common where the metal would be scavanged by natives. Regular blacksmiths would have had other iron available, and trade hatchet and tomahawk heads were common items.
Here's an interesting site showing things made from railroad spikes.
http://www.lametalsmiths.org/news/index.htm
Guest
Railroad spike hawks are PC to around 2001.
The first steam rail transport was 1804. rail service was helter skelter even during the Civil War witha multitude of guages.
Can't say I ever heard of too many hawks being turned out by the Union Pacific blacksmiths.
They do look good though.
The first steam rail transport was 1804. rail service was helter skelter even during the Civil War witha multitude of guages.
Can't say I ever heard of too many hawks being turned out by the Union Pacific blacksmiths.
They do look good though.
