Tomahawks

[Vash the Stampede]

http://www.americantomahawk.com/products/vtac.htm

Had one of these for awhile. It's a bad-ass piece of gear, my friends. I didn't find a whole lot of use for it, as I mostly used a hatchet for the little wood splitting chores that I had, and the ATC sat around. I ended up giving it to a guy as a wedding present. He was very thankful for the gift, and I'll bet his wife was disturbed, but what the hell.... that guy wanted it more than I needed it.

For a decent POS that you'll use just for kindling and such in the $30 range: http://www.agrussell.com/kershaw-camp-axe/p/KEhhh1018/

[Omega DR]

I have both the CS Trench Hawk and United Cutlery M48 Ranger Hawk. Got'em both for the cool factor, but they have their limitations. I love the concept of the Tomahawk and when I get the fund, want a custom job . Of the two, I can actually see using the UC M48 in a combat /self-defense situation. It's compact, quick and light in your hand, with a spike that could do some real damage in a CQB situation. It's biggest drawback are the crappy sheath it comes with and the synthetic handle, that will break sooner or later.
The CS Trench Hawk is more like a small battle axe. Spartacus or Crixus would have loved it. This thing is freakin long also, almost "20 inches. How are you suppose to carry this thing? The Polypro handle don't inspire much confident with repeated use. I wish CS would offer replacement handles in reinforced fiberglass.

As much as I love Hawks, if I have to carry only one....it would be neither. I'd carry my Gerber Camp Ax and Condor Golok machete over either hawk.

[MaconCJ7]

Took the 'hawk out camping. It's great. I prefer it over my Gerber hatchet. No pics, as the wife didn't realize how much my camera sucks and thought when she checked the battery and it showed "full", that it was actually full. It chops great, and throws perfectly. I definitely need practice throwing it, but the balance was great, and even in my novice form, it stuck every time I accidentally threw it correctly. The head stayed tight through it all.

[DarkPhoenix]

If I'm gonna spend a firearms-level amount of money of a Tomahawk, I think I want something that screams death and insanity is coming down if you fuck with me. Here's these from the same guy...



Completely impractical, but what the hell.

-urban

Those are the sweetest kamas I have ever seen. I want a pair!!

[Archer46176]

I have that French Boarding Ax reproduction from Beaver Bill and I love it! I bought it directly from him at the NMLRA in Friendship IN a few years back along with one of his reproduction Lewis and Clark knives. He does great work and is a great guy. The French Boarding AX or Hawk is a great fighting hawk. It was originally used by the French to board the ships of their opponents during a "pirate attack"...

[theotherryan]

If it is for utility or camping I would get one with a hammer head on back instead of a spike. FWIW Cold Steel sells hawks for about $45.

[Gaston]

Something that may help others decide between hatchet, axe and tomahawk:

With a hatch and more so an axe, you should let the head do the work ... but, you can, as they say around here "put some ass behind it" if necessary. Part of that is the shape of the head, but I think more is due to the shape of the handle. With the oblong profile and curve, you can more easily keep the head from turning when you put some power behind it.

A tomahawk is the opposite - it's like a golf swing. Golf instructors tend to harp at their students (especially the brawny men) that using brute strength causes poor contact with the ball - hooking, slicing, wormburners, sky-balls and outright whiffing. What matters is clubhead speed. Look at a driver - most likely the grip is round, or nearly so, just like a tomahawk. A long, carefully guided swing will drive the ball as far as muscle will, with much more accuracy. Same with a hawk. If it's twisting or feels awkward and you're gripping for your life to control it, you're using way too much muscle. Try a longer swing and a longer handle (again, compare the shaft length of a driver to, say, a 9 iron), and concentrate on hitting the mark.

[zombiegristle]

Slight thread necro I guess, but I just picked up two tomahawks and am already eyeing a third. I got a SOG Fusion (the larger of the two, not the smaller "FastHawk") and some sort of generic one with a 'nam-style head from United Cutlery. Total cost was $70 for the pair. They both chop wood just fine, and the SOG one completely destroyed a cinderblock in one swing with either end.

I'm leaving the UC one factory, it has a convex grind to the edge and seem more durable for chopping, but I'm sending the SOG head off to get a razor edge put on it for use as a "fighting 'hawk".

NO PICTURES FOR YOU. Until I get around to taking some.

I'm thinking for my third, I'm going to grab one of the M48 'hawks from UC and compare it to these two. I will probably eventually pick up a VTAC. I already know I'm going to have a collection of 'hawks, I've never been a big fan of bladed weapons but these really work for me.

[Geoffrey]

I have gone off the deep end modding Cold Steel Hawks...


Trail Hawk




Group Shot




Solo Shot




These are loads of fun to mod

[URBAN ASSAULT]

Welcome to ZS, and you seem to have a talent for very clean metalwork.

-urban

[KentsOkay]

I have gone off the deep end modding Cold Steel Hawks...

Group Shot



These are loads of fun to mod

Whats the one in the middle? That's some damn fine looking work, I love that satin finish.

I just got a nice homemade hawk off of a guy on Sword Buyer's Guide. I'll have it in an upcoming Estwing Carpenter's Hatchet Review.

[Razor]

Man y'all got me really wanting a new hawk right now. I've always loved hawks just because of the utility and devastating power they can generate as a bladed weapon. Right now I have an older SOG Fusion and some Army issued combat Axes. But that will all change one day.

[zombiegristle]

I have gone off the deep end modding Cold Steel Hawks...

These are loads of fun to mod

May I ask why the Cold Steel specifically? Is it something to do with the type of steel they use?