Finding an old cache of railroad spikes in the wilderness is extremely common and could prove invaluable for someone trying to survive off-grid without modern tools or weapons. Railroad spikes are tough, durable pieces of steel that can be repurposed into a variety of implements using just basic skills like hammering, grinding, sharpening and heat treating over a forge.
This article will provide an in-depth exploration of the many survival uses for railroad spikes, including creating weapons, tools, traps, fasteners and more whether in their original form or after forging over a fire.
Forging Railroad Spikes
The biggest limitation working with railroad spikes as-is is their existing shape. But with the ability to heat and hammer them into new forms over a hot forge or fire, the utility spikes provide increases dramatically.
They can be shaped into spear points, knife blades, axe and hatchet heads, digging tools, nails and more.
The key is that railroad spikes are made from strong, hardened steel, so when heated up again they can be reshaped and will harden again when quenched in water. This allows them to hold a sharp edge very well.
Creating a Forge
To heat up and reshape spikes requires extremely high temperatures that can only be achieved with a dedicated forge. But it’s possible to create a workable forge while out in the wilderness using commonly available materials:
Fire Pit and Bellows – Dig a pit, fill with charcoal and use bellows to stoke the fire to heat it as hot as possible. Railroad spikes begin to soften for shaping at around 2000°F.
Clay and Pipe Forge – Form a bowl from clay or dirt. Insert pipes leading into the bottom and connect leather bags to blow air in through the pipes, heating the chamber with burning charcoal.
Brake Drum Forge – Place a large steel brake drum from an old car or truck over a fire pit. Use bellows or a blower to force air into the opening, heating the inside.
It takes practice learning how to stoke and maintain a forge fire at an even high temperature. But once the basic forging operation is set up, railroad spikes can be heated red hot to soften them for hammering into shape.
Shaping and Treating Forged Steel
When the steel spikes are glowing brightly, quickly move them from the forge to an anvil or very hard stone surface. Use a hammer to rapidly shape the softened steel into the desired form – whether a knife blade, arrowhead, etc.
Work quickly before the steel cools back down and hardens again. Heat repeatedly as needed to continue adjusting the shape. Movements should drive out impurities while consolidating the steel grain structure.
Once the desired shaped is achieve, heating one last time, the steel must be hardened again. This is done by rapidly cooling or “quenching” the steel in oil, water or air after the final heating. Cooling rapidly traps more carbon in the steel matrix, making it hold an edge.
Finally, “tempering” can draw some hardness back out to reduce brittleness.
Heat the steel lightly and then allow to cool slowly. Some trial and error testing allows adjusting the final steel properties.
With practice, railroad spikes can be forged into durable, shaped implements that will be invaluable survival aides out in the wilderness.
Weapons
Weapons for hunting, defense and protection are some of the most vital items that can be fashioned from railroad spikes in a wilderness survival situation. Both piercing and cutting implements can be made.
Spear Points
Sharpened spikes on the end of wooden poles make excellent spears, but shaping spike fragments over a forge allows crafting specialized spear points designed for piercing and staying lodged in prey.
Carefully shape a railroad spike fragment into a leaf shape, flat on one side and coming to stout point on the other. Sharpen the edges so they taper gradually, thinning to a needle point. Pierce a wooden pole down over the flat base and lash securely with leather or vine cordage.
A spear with forged railroad spike head provides a strong, piercing weapon effective for bringing down wild game as large as wild boar or deer at longer ranges. The weighted spike easily penetrates thick hide and cuts deep into flesh.
Knives
With skillful forging, railroad spikes can be turned into high quality steel knives – valuable commodities for any survival scenario.
Start by heating and flattening a spike horizontally into a short stubby rectangle. Then reheat and use a hammer to taper and shape the metal into the desired knife profile – a strong spine tapering to a sharp cutting edge.
Creating a tang to fit a wooden handle is also possible by splitting and shaping part of the steel. Grooves or texture can be forged into the handle area to give added grip. Once shaped, follow the hardening and tempering steps outlined above. This yields a durable, hardened steel blade.
Handles can be carved from wood, bone, antler or other available materials and attached by lashing over the tang. A quality, hand-forged knife is one of the most useful tools for processing game, preparing hides, carving and multitudes of other essential wilderness tasks.
Arrowheads
Hunting game with a bow and arrow provides food and hides for clothing. And railroad spikes can yield arrowhead points after some forging work.
Start by heating a spike to red hot and then cooling just the tip rapidly with water. This should cause the tip to crack or shatter from the rapid temperature change. Use a hammer to knock the brittle section off.
Then reheat the spike fragment and flatten it into a triangle shape. Refine the shape with careful hammer strikes and sharpen the two bottom corners into points. Create a tang at the top for attaching it to a wooden arrow shaft by notches or lashings.
Flintknapping techniques can also be used for pressure flaking sharp edges once initial forged shaping is complete.
Tools
Essential tools are critical in an off-grid area to build shelters, harvest materials, craft other items and process resources. Railroad spikes can be transformed into a variety of practical tools.
Axes and Hatchets
A good axe or hatchet is invaluable for processing firewood. By using a forge, railroad spikes can be crafted into axe or hatchet heads.
Start by heating and isolating a section of a railroad spike. Then reshape the section into a flattened wedge profile – sharp at one end and with an eye hole at the other for attaching a handle. Refine with careful hammer work before hardening at the end.
Temper the axe head to reduce brittleness and prevent cracking under heavy chopping strains. Then carve a strong hardwood handle to fit and wedge it into place. Lashings around the eye can secure it tightly. Add padding if desired.
With practice, a quality railroad spike axe or hatchet can chop wood very effectively. Keep the head sharpened with file and stone.
Digging Implements
Foraging for edible roots or tubers, digging latrine pits, and breaking ground for planting are all essential tasks that require sturdy digging implements when living off the grid. Railroad spikes can provide the foundations for fashioning durable steel heads for tools like pickaxes, hoes, shovels, and more when heated and hammered over a forge.
The same heating and shaping principles apply. Isolate a spike section, flatten and extend it, and refine the form for the desired tool. Create a pick end for breaking hard earth or a broad shovel/hoe profile for moving loose soil. Re-harden the shaped steel at the end with quenching.
Attach the forged digging heads to sturdy wooden handles much like an axe head. Lash tightly and pad for comfort. With hand tools like these, extensive earthworks become possible even without modern powered excavators.Hammer and Nail HeadsIn their original form, railroad spikes already provide useful hammer heads and nails for woodworking.
The square spike heads lend themselves naturally for use as improvised hammers. Simply drive a wooden handle into the eye hole at angles, carve to fit, and lash securely. Then the heavy steel head can drive stakes or other spikes, pound, or even be used for light forging work.
And the spikes themselves function as durable nails for building projects. They are oversized for typical nail duties, but can create strong pinned joints for securing handle grips, structural members, and other wilderness construction projects.
Additional Railroad Spike Uses
Even without forging capabilities, railroad spikes have many direct uses for survival purposes including:
- Tent stakes & tether anchors
- Hinges & fasteners
- Improvised wine bottle carriers
- Lock bars & door latches
- Chunks for striking flint & steel
- Fish gaff hooks
- Improvised coat hooks
- Belt buckle blanks
- Steel stock for repairs & welding
- Trap components & deadfalls
- Spear barbs to prevent escape
- Bear bag cable anchors
- Signal mirrors if polished
With some creativity, the uses for a cache of railroad spikes are almost endless when building gear and solving problems in wilderness survival scenarios. Practicing the fundamentals of heating, shaping, hardening, and crafting steel before venturing out increases self-reliance immensely.
The durable steel and existing form factors of railroad spikes allows them to assist off-grid survival in a wide variety of ways. Their utility only increases if traditional blacksmithing skills are available apply – turning crude spikes into refined, life-saving implements. With practice, even novices can learn to fashion specialized gear from spikes.
