A tomahawk???

T

TLM

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Jan 11, 2000
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What are the defining characteristics of a tomahawk, those that tell it (clearly?) apart from a "hatchet". Do such exist or is it that "I know one when I see one?

A non-american wants to know.

TLM
 
Tomahawk

Derived from the Algonquian word tamahak, which denoted a utensil used for cutting, the word tomahawk generally refers to a light, hatchetlike implement with a stone or metal head. Early Euro-Americans described Indian axes and war clubs made of stone or wood as tomahawks, but eventually the term came to be applied exclusively to metal hatchets. Because of their versatility and superiority to native equivalents, Europeanmanufactured tomahawks quickly became prized trade items and remained so well into the nineteenth century.

Though frequently employed as a weapon, the tomahawk also served as a tool, a ceremonial object, a decorative item, and a symbol of leadership. One of the most popular versions of the tomahawk doubled as a pipe. A blade and a pipe bowl balanced each other at either end of the tomahawk's handle. When smoked in council or given as gifts, pipe tomahawks helped to seal alliances or treaties between different groups.

Along with the tipi, the totem pole, and the war bonnet, the tomahawk has become a popular symbol of Indian culture, especially among nonnatives. Plastic tomahawks can be found at many souvenir stands and toy stores. And in the early 1990s, the "tomahawk chop" performed by fans of the Atlanta Braves became a target of protests by Native Americans, who argued that the cheer belittled Indian people and their history.
 
The tomahawk became personalized by the use of items such as feathers,beads,tacks,leather and engraving.
 
The tomahawk became personalized by the use of items such as feathers,beads,tacks,leather and engraving.
Click to expand...
Actually, there is very little evidence that any of that was used much at all. While there are a few documented pieces that have engraving on them, most didn't. Ditto for tacks and leather. The use of beads was limited to beaded 'drops' on the end of the handle (of again, very few). I have yet to see an authentic American Indian hawk anywhere that is all wrapped up in leather, laden with tacks, and dangling feathers such as some of the 'reproductions' that you see today.

Mostly what they did on hafts (if anything) was carving, metal bands or caps, file branding, and/or use of different colorants such as red ochre to 'stain' the haft.

Believe it or not.

Here you go ...how much of that stuff do you see on these hawks?

10daaf180.jpg
 
TLM said:
What are the defining characteristics of a tomahawk, those that tell it (clearly?) apart from a "hatchet".
Click to expand...
The basic differences are induced by a tomahawks abillity to be thrown :

-straight handle
-an eye which is taper fit
-softer steel
-thicker edge

The handle allows ready release, the edge allows broken handles to be replaced, the steel and edge geometry keep it from breaking apart when you miss.

-Cliff
 
Main Entry: tom·a·hawk
Pronunciation: 'tä-mi-"hok
Function: noun
Etymology: Virginia Algonquian tomahack
: a light ax used as a missile and as a hand weapon especially by No. American Indians

Main Entry: hatch·et
Pronunciation: 'ha-ch&t
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English hachet, from Middle French hachette, diminutive of hache battle-ax -- more at HASH
1 : a short-handled ax often with a hammerhead to be used with one hand
2 : TOMAHAWK

Source:
Merriam-Webster Online
 
Hi, Brothers,
I have a very interesting in that when and why some tomahawks had the second blade or weapon on the top of axe head ?????
(For example,the Joe Flournoy's tomahawk,there is a fearful Spike on the axe top.http://www.robertsoncustomcutlery.com/images/flourntomah.jpg
)

By the way ,
Someone could tell me that the gracile Spike style tomahawk is Joe Flournoy's very personal design ????

thanks a lot !
 
Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as an 'original idea' anymore, as everything has already been thought of by someone or other at some point in time ...despite what the US Patent Office thinks. One may think it's 'new', but if the truth be known, it's just a rehashed old idea.

With that said, the first one is a variation of the Native American Indian style spike tomahawk ...with a few little personalized touches. I can't say that thinning the wall of the eye like that makes it into much of a 'user' however.

The second one appears to be primarily a tool (hatchet) as opposed to being a weapon ...very similar to the small spike found on iced windshield clearing tools (or glass breaking tools ) ...hence the name 'storm axe', eh? I like it a lot. Or is that for 'storm troopers' ..as it's sold thru a 'tactical' store? LOL!

The third one is definitely a 'tactical hawk' ... primarily a weapon. Sharpened edges all the way around ...this ones a 'fighter', no doubt about it. This particular model was designed with the armed forces in mind. I like it too. A little too 'wicked' looking for, say, carrying in your vehicle trunk, though ...or everyday use. While you could easily explain away the 'storm axe' as just a relatively harmless 'tool', you'd have a hard time doing that with the RMJ 'eagle talon hawk', I'm guessing. :)
 
Very nice hawk there ...simple but elegant, with what appears to be a damascus steel head. Definitely a Native American 'tomahawk' design. And I like it too. :)
 
I agree with Cliff Stamp's post... usually you have a 'hawk when the handle is long enough to balance the weight of the head.

Not always: but that's a good indicator from a distance.
 
For me, two things play into the balance of a hawk; the length and diameter of the haft of course, and the density of the wood. With a heavy hawk head, you can move the balance quite a bit by choosing a dense wood for the haft, and vice versa for a light hawk head. Also note that some 1700's hawks also had curved or oddly shaped hafts. To wit:

8326f200.jpg

SPIKED TOMAHAWK Circa 1800 (original haft)
(For a similar example see: AMERICAN INDIAN TOMAHAWKS by Harold L. Peterson
1971. #82, page 97.)

Photo courtesy of the TRADE AXE & TOMAHAWK COLLECTORS ASSOCIATION
 
I'll bet that our idea of what a tomahawk 'is' has been jaded by museum curators who select for display a more 'decorative' hawk with bangles and beads and put the 'plain' ones away in the collections in the basement.
Thereafter everyone assumes all hawks were highly decorated Hollywood style.
Personally, I wouldn't want a wad of feathers getting tangled in things when I am fighting for my life....
 
Actually, I think it goes further than that ....as it appears that some museums have been, and still are, in the practice of hafting old tomahawk heads themselves for exhibits, then decorating them with feathers and 'bangles' and such to make them look more 'American Indian'.

The end result of such deception is that the general public assumes that it's not a 'tomahawk' unless it has all those decorative elements...

...and you're right, who in their right mind would want all that junk dangling from their primary close quarter weapon?
 
Great point guys. I think all that foppery seen hanging off hawks is pretty queer. None of my hawks have that stuff on them, and if any of you have such stuff on a hawk that's a user I'd like to know. I promise not to flame anyone if they do. I'm just curious and my guess is that no one does.
 
TLM said:
What are the defining characteristics of a tomahawk, those that tell it (clearly?) apart from a "hatchet". Do such exist or is it that "I know one when I see one?

A non-american wants to know.

TLM
Click to expand...

Balance plays a big factor when selecting one over the other. The typical hatchet has more weight in the head to facilitate chopping wood. This reduces the need for pure muscle power to get the job done.

The tomahawk can also be used for that purpose, but the balance is more even with the center of mass further down the handle, to make quick reversals easier.
 
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