TimeWarp #3 - Tanto Forging Practice: Railroad Spike

Hand forging a classical tanto style blade study from a reclaimed railroad spike and a tsuba from the spike serious letter opener? (4x) The goal is to use all of the steel by moving it into place. Serious students of the forge can watch the full process version here: This project was intended as purely a forging exercise to inspire those wishing to learn hand forging of sunobe and tanto, using an available source of scrap steel in a conveniently sized and shaped billet (“forge 10 of these and call me in the morning“). However as research into the composition and characteristics of railroad spike steel it has raised some interesting points which may lead to further research into koto swords. First a note…