Appreciation post: the before and after on this railroad spike knife after 3 years of use

I forged a knife from a railroad spike back in 2020 and it looked rough, like a gray brick with a handle. Fast forward to now, and the blade has this deep black patina from all the rust and oil it picked up in my shop. Has anyone else had a tool or blade totally transform just from using it every day lol?

2 comments

2 Comments

skyler_craig7d ago

That patina tells more stories than a shiny new blade ever could.

scott.grace7d ago

Yeah, absolutely! I had an old hatchet that looked like trash when I first got it, all pitted and dull, but after years of chopping and just leaving it in my shed it got this dark, rich color that's way cooler than anything store-bought. It's like the tool earns its own look over time, you know? That black patina on your spike knife sounds exactly like what makes a piece of gear feel like it's really yours.