Tomahawks

[MaconCJ7]

Taken from another forum:

"A 'hawk and a hatchet have different blade profiles which reflect their different roles.
The hawk generally has a thinner profile that allows it to penetrate easily, where an hatchet is more wedge like for splitting.
If you're limbing or throwing, a hawk will be better. if you want to split wood, then a hatchet will be better.
As to the handle, a hatchet design allows for more comfortable working over a longer time period. The straight hawk design puts additional strain on the wrist which leads to an earlier onset of fatigue. "

Here is a much more in depth description.

[nastysmell]

in answer to the questions. that is just a cold steel spike hawk i worked over. it was a lot of fun to do and made a nice gift. maybe i will post progress on the next one.

[Turtlewolf]

in answer to the questions. that is just a cold steel spike hawk i worked over. it was a lot of fun to do and made a nice gift. maybe i will post progress on the next one.

That would be nice!
cheers

[praharin]

... or use the hawk to cut a small wooden club, then use the club to drive stakes.

How dare you enter practicality into this conversation!

Good idea though, and it beats using a rock, which is my usual tool.

I use a rock or something. I always keep one in my pack to cook MREs.

Hmm...I read this like a dozen times and still don't get the joke. Care to explain.
Also, slightly off topic; could someone list the differences (pros/cons) between a hatchet and a tomahawk? Thanks.

[praharin]

in answer to the questions. that is just a cold steel spike hawk i worked over. it was a lot of fun to do and made a nice gift. maybe i will post progress on the next one.

I'd actually like to know what I'd have to do to get you to make me one. I'd like a Valknut symbol on one side. The CS Spike hawk always makes me think of a raven because of the spike shape. I think a symbol of Odin is appropriate, no? Vector001 made a raven hawk from one some time ago and I've been salivating ever since.

[Niblick]

I get it now. I love .mil instructions.

For general survival purposes, does the community prefer hawks or hatchets. Seems like I'd be chopping more wood than skulls.

[Doctorr Fabulous]

What about a hawk blade on a curved, hatchet-style handle?

[2now]

i recommend a lighter boys axe. I like the heaviest bladed, longest handled axe the a can comfortably swing and use with only one hand. for me that seems to be about a 20 oz head and a 24" handle. but I grew up with an axe. YMMV

[ForgeCorvus]

What about a hawk blade on a curved, hatchet-style handle?

Try a Kentish patten axe or hatchet


This shows the typical cross-section of a Kent


Rather then the standard wedge of the common Swedish patten


The Kent is more primitive design based on a wrapped eye (rather then the punched & drifted eye of the Swedish) as are metal tomahawks

[HuevosRancheros]

Howdy All,

I have long favored a tomahawk over a traditional hatchet for some years in various light yard and camping functions. I have an SOG tomahawk and it carries a sharp edge and swings nicely against pesky palm fronds, which due to their fibrous nature can hang up other cutters. They also tend to be lighter and less bulky than a trad. hatchet. Less useful for hammering but you can hammer with other things ...like hammers

My SOG hawk is both tacticool and intimidating as a possible weapon, as a tool I like it, but I admit my opinion is limited by my own experience.

Happy chopping!

[Coal-Cracker]

For general survival purposes, does the community prefer hawks or hatchets. Seems like I'd be chopping more wood than skulls.

I can't speak for the community, but this is a question I recently asked myself. I've had it explained to me like this: An axe is primarily a tool that can be used as a weapon. A tomahawk is a primarily a weapon that can be used as tool. That said, my realistic needs called for a tool.
Recognizing that a felling axe, while good at what it does, wouldn't be practical due to it's weight and length, I went with a smaller axe. As 2now mentions above with his recommendation, it is a little bit bigger than what most would consider "hatchet size", but not so large it can't be easily transported if on foot. After a lot of research wading though multiple bushcraft forums on the web, I went with the pretty much universally recommended Gransfors Bruks Small Forest Axe. Not the cheapest option, but this thing is a hand-forged beauty and it came arm-hair shaving sharp. Specs are a 19" and a 1.5 lb head. Added a rubber and paracord wrap to protect the handle in the event of an overstrike and called it a day.

Here's a cell phone pic; sorry 'bout the quality.



Not gonna lie, I have also been looking at tomahawks recently.

[Niblick]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm trying to decide the hatchet/tomahawk/machete conundrum. Seeing as how I already own a hatchet, I'll probably just stick with that and focus on other items I'm lacking. Gransfors bruks makes awesome blades though.

[Rednex]

Sorry no pics.

I took an old hatchet head i found in the shed 1 and 1/4 lb head. Took it to a hardware store and found a 24 inch boys axe handle that fit the head.

Its light weight and swings well only problem is the head isnt that good a steel , edge rolls over like a champ.

[Paladin1]

Coal-Cracker is spot on with his definition. I've been working on upping my bushcraft skills and have spent some time in the woods with some very knowledgeable folks.

Hawks are weapons, axes are tools. Obviously they can be pressed into service for either task.

The Gransfors Bruks is considered the best of the best small forest axes. There are others that are also good, like Wetterlings, Garret Wade and Council Tool. They may not have quite the workmanship of the Gransfors, but with a little work they would serve well.

I took a little different approach (of course )

I did some research and discovered that American PLUMB axes where once world famous and widely distributed, being used for hard core forestry work as well as competitions.

I found a 1.5# head on Ebay in great condition for $15. I spent another $10. on a hickory handle, worked over the head a little and I have a forest axe I would match up with the best out there. I choose not to put the buffer wheel to it and polish it to a mirror finish, I wanted a little antique tool panache left.

Not quite finished but:


Can you get an edge on it?

That was not from an errant stroke. I sharpened it, went and chopped on a tree for 10 min. and was just wiping it off when my finger slid along the edge. It will slice paper and shave hair, as well as fingers!

[Turtlewolf]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm trying to decide the hatchet/tomahawk/machete conundrum. Seeing as how I already own a hatchet, I'll probably just stick with that and focus on other items I'm lacking. Gransfors bruks makes awesome blades though.

The hatchet/tomahawk/machete conundrum? Seriously?
In reality there is no such conundrum, well in peoples heads there is, the tool is decided by where you are.
If you need to clear brambles and light brush then a machete is what you need and it will also chop light wood for a fire just fine (the heavier Kabar and Condor machete's will chop a lot of heavy wood because of thickness of up to .25").
A good hatchet, Plumb, Council, Fiskers or one of the Swede makers will chop heavier wood easier than your average light machete but dosen't handle brambles worth a crap.
A good tomahawk does much the same job as a hatchet but is much easier to rehaft in the field.
The whole "tomahawk is weapon, hatchet is tool" mantra is old and sets ideas in peoples heads that are not neccesarily true. They are both tools that seriously have little difference and much the same use.
All three can also do detail work but it is easier with a hatchet/tomahawk.
cheers

[caffeinegod]

Hey maconcj7 remember me, the guy near your area who has a forge, sure you can go buy a hawk or come hang out send some rounds down range then build your own for free Just saying.

[URBAN ASSAULT]

... or use the hawk to cut a small wooden club, then use the club to drive stakes.

How dare you enter practicality into this conversation!

Good idea though, and it beats using a rock, which is my usual tool.

I use a rock or something. I always keep one in my pack to cook MREs.

-urban

[MaconCJ7]

Hey maconcj7 remember me, the guy near your area who has a forge, sure you can go buy a hawk or come hang out send some rounds down range then build your own for free Just saying.

I do remember, and still appreciate the offer. I planned on doing both. Buying one, and ordering the how to to build my own. I just don't expect the same quality on the first few runs, and I'll have a use for it before I upgrade my skills. Planning on lots of camping with the family this summer.

[caffeinegod]

Good deal. I made some modifications to my forge today and now its way more effeicent (spell?) I also am in process of making a propane forge as well.

[by-the-throat]

Howdy All,

I have long favored a tomahawk over a traditional hatchet for some years in various light yard and camping functions. I have an SOG tomahawk and it carries a sharp edge and swings nicely against pesky palm fronds, which due to their fibrous nature can hang up other cutters. They also tend to be lighter and less bulky than a trad. hatchet. Less useful for hammering but you can hammer with other things ...like hammers

My SOG hawk is both tacticool and intimidating as a possible weapon, as a tool I like it, but I admit my opinion is limited by my own experience.

Happy chopping!

Welcome to ZS, HuevosRancheros.

As far as the SOG hawks, I had a SOG Fusion that lasted me all of two bugouts and one soft camping trip before it broke off just below the head. And this was with light camp duties, because we had a larger axe on hand for major stuff, and the SOG mostly got relegated to limbing TP sticks and chopping roots.

I cannot reccomend it for serious outdoor use. I bug out with a woodman's pal now, but I think even my rifleman's hawk would have done better. I also have a trench hawk, but that is...well, I justify it to myself as a breaching tool. Yeah, we'll go with that.

[Niblick]

The hatchet/tomahawk/machete conundrum? Seriously?

No, fakely.
The conundrum is not which tool works best for a specific task. It's deciding which of the three best meet my needs, because I'm not bugging out with one of each.

[Turtlewolf]

The hatchet/tomahawk/machete conundrum? Seriously?

No, fakely.
The conundrum is not which tool works best for a specific task. It's deciding which of the three best meet my needs, because I'm not bugging out with one of each.

Now that makes sense!
cheers

[HuevosRancheros]

Howdy All,

Thanks by-the-throat, I appreciate your SOG tomahawk experiences and am happy to hear of their possible failings AHEAD of my next chopping adventure! Sometimes new materials are no match for good ole hickory! I will look into the rifleman's hawk you mentioned to add to my collection!

HR

[foxx]

Some early SOG composit handles had air bubbles in them, that's why and where they were breaking. They say they've fixed the issue, and I've been beating the crap out of my Fasthawk, I throw it too, with no issues.

I think there's some big differences in Hawk and Hatchetes. The blade thickness, weight, and geometry are different enough to deserve different names. Not only does it depend on what you want to cut or chop, but how much of that. For a backpacker in the SW or SE, that maybe needs some firewood, a lighter hawk or machete will do the job. How much chopping will you need to do for a nights fire?
If you are in the North, and your AO is the forests, then you may need a bigger fire, and the wood is thicker, harder, and frozen. Most Canadians on Bladeforums are axe guys. They may need a machete for weeds or thorns, but not for camping so much.

I like Hawks that are weapons, that spike is there to puncture flesh and bone, not wood. A pure fighting weapon is always going to be a better weapon. Better than using a tool as a weapon. Poor people have always used tools as weapons, like the machete, when a sword is the better weapon.
I like my wood cutting tools to be tools, the weight/mass distribution is not the same as a weapon, for a reason.