War club question

[jonathan creason]

I'm getting ready to start on a gunstock war club and have a question about the spike. Would it be worthwhile to heat treat the spike on a club like this? I'm just thinking on the off chance that somebody tried to throw it, I wouldn't want a hardened spike breaking off on impact. I doubt the person that's getting it would ever even try, but I'm sort of thinking "just in case".

 

[Church & Son]

Johnathon I've made a bunch of spears, arrowheads and frog gigs and did not heat treat any of them. I'm of the same mind, I'd rather bend than break one. I did normalize several times to releave stresses from hammering. I'm making a war club now and I just know I'll HAVE TO THROW IT...so...just my opinion. I don't actually know historically how they were treated. Maybe someone else will chime in with history.......Randy

 

[jonathan creason]

Thanks Randy, I appreciate the advice. I've got a couple of old plow bottoms I think I'm going to try and forge one out of.

 

[Rustyboy]

historically speaking the blades that were used on gunstock warclubs would probably Rc at about 50. soft by modern standards but definetly in the spring-y territory.

so forge it out, heat treat ,and temper to a blue.

 

[jonathan creason]

Thanks Rustyboy, I'll give that a shot.