Alligator Twist grip RR spike knife.

**Yamez-IMF** · Dec 28, 2018, 08:13 AM

I consider a knife as a tool, and although a spike knife would need to be re sharpened, it makes a good beater blade. This is my second try at one of these, and my first time using the Guillotine tool from my previous post. Planning on making another today for my brother. These are fun!

**Frontier Forge** · Dec 28, 2018, 02:33 PM

Great knife. The twist is pretty awesome

**G.Paul** · Dec 28, 2018, 05:07 PM

I knew a real black smith back across the big lake that would never talk to again if he saw you using a ball ping hammer

**Yamez-IMF** · Dec 28, 2018, 05:14 PM

I have several hammers... I used the lighter ball peen for this particular piece because that's how I wanted the metal to move.. and to be honest... if he is that elitist about his work, then that would be fine with me.
In this video I used a brass hammer, a ball peen, a rounding, and a cross peen..
There are also those who say you shouldn't use an angle grinder on bevels... but, it's what I have. Should be getting my 2x72 soon... traded some billets of Damascus for it.

**wizard69** · Dec 28, 2018, 06:32 PM

Originally Posted by Yamez-IMF

I have several hammers... I used the lighter ball peen for this particular piece because that's how I wanted the metal to move.. and to be honest... if he is that elitist about his work, then that would be fine with me.
In this video I used a brass hammer, a ball peen, a rounding, and a cross peen..
There are also those who say you shouldn't use an angle grinder on bevels... but, it's what I have. Should be getting my 2x72 soon... traded some billets of Damascus for it.

A ball peen is a metal working hammer, why anybody would think different is beyond me.

By the way a nice looking knife but isn't the handle a bit hard on the hands?

**Yamez-IMF** · Dec 28, 2018, 06:39 PM

Eh, its actually pretty comfortable... no need for a death grip, and Rr spike knives are really more for decoration unless you want to resharpen all the time... it's a low carbon steel. Unless I were to make a spike out of an alloy steel or san-mai some 15n20 into it... which, I might.. when I can do a proper bevel.
And yes ball peen hammers are frequently used in a blacksmithing shop.. I soften the faces, re handle and use them as ball punches... and occasionally a lighter smaller face to get under the lips of things like the butt of a spike. Plus the added bonus of flipping it over for a different way to move metal.

**Frank S** · Dec 28, 2018, 07:10 PM

Well I have never claimed to be a blacksmith although I apprenticed under 1 for 5 years as a teen he had a large selection of hammers around his forge even several ball peens you wouldn't want to use 1 of his ball peens ad a mechanic's hammer for tapping out a water pump gasket though

**Yamez-IMF** · Dec 28, 2018, 07:14 PM

They come in handy... don't use them all the time... but, have tool will use!

**Yamez-IMF** · Dec 28, 2018, 08:33 PM

Originally Posted by G.Paul

I knew a real black smith back across the big lake that would never talk to again if he saw you using a ball ping hammer

So just mentioned what ya said, to some of my blacksmithing colleagues, and they gave me this video to show you.. the general consensus is that yes blacksmiths will and do use ball peen hammers. Past present and future..