help me dsesign a BoB tomahawk

[2now]

Tomahawk project:

I am interested in getting a tomahawk/small axe custom built with the goal of adding it to my bug out gear. But there are lots of different issues that may have an impact that I am not aware of or have not yet figured out. So I am starting a thread on ZS.

Because I am thinking about bugging out, lighter weight is better. I expect the right size for me will be about 26 -32 oz and about 20-26” but I am open to other ideas. I want something that will be a very general and useful tool, but able to serve for self defense.

Some Issues:

HANDLE:

Length?
wood or other material?
straight or curved?
Wrapped or plain?

Head to handle joint?
hammer joint, mattock joint, cast into head [i.e. friskars], forge socket handle, or other?

HEAD:

Cutting edge:

weight?
blade shape:
length of cutting edge?
Sharpened on bottom? On top? Or just on the front?
Lower beard? if so pointed or flat?
top of cutting edge; straight or up-swept?

Back edge:
this is where it really gets interesting there are so many back edge possibilities, some of the classics are; unadorned, hammer head, or a spike of various kinds. But there are some other possibilities like, sling shot [comments Jorge?], atl-atl, bladed or non-bladed hook [to help gathering food], utility blade, integral set screw to help with scrounged handles, digging blade [a toma-kawalski?] pry bar tip.

What else can you thk of that might be good to put on the back of a tomahawk?

Other possible features:

Langets
hole to accept carabiner/dummy cord
side of head modifications
use as a stand alone blade
place to strike a firesteel


One thing that is worth clarifying is a head only designed to take a scrounged handle when put to task, 1ike the Scatchet (see http://www.2hawks.net/ASKATCHET.html).

Use as a stand alone utility blade is well set out here with the haket :http://www.topsknives.com/product_info.php?products_id=325

I grew up with axes, and am very comfortable with them. I got my 1st hatchet for Christmas when I was 6. So every kit I build wants an axe, but they are so heavy; and as great as they are most of them are single use items. Which leads me to where I am now.

[shaw11b]

Try Vecs Hawks. He is on Dirttime.com or google him. He makes composite handles for Cold Steel hawkheads. he can do almost any length haft you want. I am going to be placing an order with him shortly for a 16 inch spike hawk. He also has a youtube channel as well.

[praharin]

As above^


Go with a 24-30" BUG hawk. Go ahead and tell him I sent you. Even after hearing that, they'll treat you right. I own several, and you will be happy, guaranteed. Literally, he calls it the "Happiness Guarantee"

ericag@equinoxcoronado.com

[foxx]

IMO, the more areas you sharpen, on a hawk head, the more dangerous it becomes. I'm not against it, I would just make sure you know what you're getting. The RMJ Tactical hawks have sharpened beards, for example, but most of their designs don't have the handle material go up far enough for that to be an issue. To sharpen the top, or spine, of the head would be even more dangerous, but still useful as a weapon. Again, I'm not against it, but I would not want to be casual with something made with a sharpened beard, spine, and spike. Plus, you wouldn't be able to use the head by itself. Aren't sharpened beards mostly for cutting metal? I like enough beard to be able to hook an arm, gun, it adds length to the primary cutting edge, and adds to it's use for self defense. Hooking a person's arm and manipulating them is less lethal than swinging at them.

For combat, I'd want rapid deployment, portable size, full tang, mass in the head, and a very sharp edge, and a spike or hammer in the rear. A curved handle is great for a fighter. Such as the designs by Daniel Winkler, RMJ, or maybe Self Reliance/Omnivore bladeworks?
The best fighting hawks aren't really made for other tasks, they could do them, just not as well. I understand that you want general usefulness with self defense as a second priority. I'd stay away from the full tang hawks, IMO, they are for combat and breaching, hard use, and you won't be able to remove the head. Traditional, wooden handle, hawks are very useful, with a hammer poll or a spike. The correct grain alignment on a Hickory haft should last a long time, they usually only break when getting thrown or by missing your target. They are cheaper to make(should be) and you can replace the handle in the field.

[Phoenix David]

a BoBaHawk?