And they said it couldn't be done.....Vietnam Hawk (1), Kevlar (0)

Andy Prisco

Andy Prisco

Joined
Nov 2, 1999
Messages
2,805
This picture, while comical for effect, marks something totally unprecedented in cutlery and the Military.

I paraded this image, among several, as well as streaming video of the test, to all the players at the US Army Infantry Center yesterday and today at Fort Benning. Among those who saw it and were absolutely astonished included Ranger Jones, personal aid to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Shelton....General Shelton was presented a personalized Vietnam Tomahawk today, as he is an "old school" Ranger, who served in Vietnam, among other parts of the world.

This is a totally uncomprimsed, std. issue, $400 Kevlar Helmet, made available for this test by a Ranger. It only took one strike from the prototype "Tactical Grade: Vietnam Tomahawk", which sports a black, synthetic handle, to produce what you are now looking at.

View


I have a thick cloth between my head and where the Spike blew through so I could be smiling in this pic...when you see the other pics, and the video, you'll see why if someone were wearing it when we did the test, they wouldn't be smiling. :D

More images and video from the test, Ranger Rendezvous, and what's coming up with the Vietnam Tomahawk this weekend!!! I will be en route to the office later today.
 
Wow!!! I bought one of these hawks last week and am awaiting delivery. I can't wait to get it. Not that I intend to go drilling people...;) ;)
 
Cool pic, Andy. I'll be looking forward to reviewing your update when I get back from the weekend.

Originally posted by Andy Prisco
...which sports a black, synthetic handle...
Click to expand...

I'm particularly interested in this development. Come on, leak some details before I take off ;), such as will these be available separately? If so, when & how much? TIA.
 
Awesome pic, Andy! That hawk looks vicious!

Say, is that a Kevlar handle? ;)

So what are some of the things that won't penetrate the Kevlar helmet? (just so I can tell me friends "this hawk is more powerful than ---!") :D
 
This prove that Kevlar is ONLY bullet proof. Not hawk proof!!!

BTW Andy, do you need any Alieve or Tylenol????:confused:
 
I guess I didn't buy one of these hawks last week. Duh.:eek: I didn't catch the part about the synthetic handle. I imagine that a hickory handled hawk could do the same thing, couldn't it?
 
You knucklehead!

You know what Andy, and I am not kidding, that piece would probably sell for $5,000 in the New York "Art" Market.

LMAO.

:D
 
Why are you interested Cliff? You gonna bad mouth this company too while praising Busse? Look.....long walk......short pier.......better get to walking.
 
No damage to the spike end at all and I will upload the pics to show the penetration.....the Kevlar is pretty thick, so what poked through was, while completely through, not significant, though it would have gone through scalp easily...subdural penetration would be "iffy", though, if it were done harder, dain bramage for sure! :)

KnifeBomber...Cliff is a proponent of our products, only after serious testing. All questions are welcomed here. Hope you keep comin' around....good to see you visit.
 
Andy,
Glad you made it home safe.
You should have come back through Mississippi on your way home to visit with us!!!! It is only three days out of the way!!!!
Oh well maybe next time
See Ya
V-man
 
Andy Prisco :

subdural penetration would be "iffy", though, if it were done harder, dain bramage for sure!
Click to expand...

That is one of the main benefits of a 'Hawk vs a large knife as an impact weapon regarding penetration. With a large knife, if I want to do a hard stab, you have your elbow bent sharply (45 or so off your upper arm), and power down driving from the shoulder as well as twising from the waist. You can get a lot of force this way, but the effort is high and you must keep the force going after the initial penetration and thus the load is high, as well is the demand on your grip as if you don't keep it tight you will either ramp your hand up on the blade or mash it into the guard.


However with a 'Hawk you don't swing anything like that, you start off with your elbow bent, and you snap it forward while at the same time rocking forward (you start off leaning backwards), and basically doing everything to get the speed of the Hawk up. When the 'Hawk impacts your arm is fully extended, note as well that the impact point it far beyond your grip, so you are looking at a curvature radius of about ~4', this is the critical point as it is *way* beyond the radius used for the knife, and combine this tremendous increase in speed with the much greater mass, and far shifted balance point, and you have something that impacts with energies *far* beyond a knife.

If you tried the same technique with a knife it would not be nearly as effective as a knife does not have the required level of mass, and you would end up trying to power it into the target and unless you have the strength of someone like Ted Arcidi, you will be far too weak in that plane.

As an example, it is *very* difficult to drive the point of a knife through a 2x4, the point on the ATC-spike will do that without effort. In regards to combat issues, regarding the helmet, even if it was reinforced enough to widthstand penetration, I would be very surprised if the sheer violence of a full strength impact didn't do disabling damage all on its own.

-Cliff
 
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