Best way to add grip purchase to a VTAC?

E

El Cid

Joined
Nov 20, 2003
Messages
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I just received my ATC VTAC this week and was a little disappointed in the handle. Maybe my CQC-T has spoiled me, but there is very little to give a solid grip. If fact, the VTAC's handle is almost slippery it is so smooth.

So... my question is, has anyone done anything to improve the grip? I don't want anything so rough as skateboard tape, but was thinking a section of radiator hose might be the ticket. Any thoughts or suggestions will be appreciated. :)
 
I took 120 grit sand paper to mine. It wasn't pretty, but it never was before that. It did improve considerably though.
 
SO you think all the VTACs will be slippery? how do you like the hawk other than that though man?
 
Try this:
(1) Take off some of the shiny coat on the bottom 1/3 or 1/2 of the handle, to give the grip material purchase. Maybe even roughen the surface with a wire brush or some really-coarse sandpaper. Or just a handful of gravel.
(2) Apply some rubberized golf club or tennis racquet grip tape, purchased from a sporting goods store. You could use some kind of glue underneath it to help it hold, if it's not the self-adhesive kind.
 
may be heat shrink tubing. Get the tighest that will slide on then shrink it.
 
i hate to hear that about these fine hawks... maybe ya got a lemon as far as the handle goes, but i KNOW the hawk itself is bomb proof!
 
They are typically very slick, but as you see in the posts already, there are ways to remedy this. As I said earlier, sanding is the option I chose. This is because I am uncomfortable in swinging a hawk with a secondary surface that is supposed to be adhered to an already slick surface. Bead blasting would give you a much more uniform appearance and probably would be more dependable in gripping.
 
I use calfskin gloves when I do a lot of hacking with mine. That improves the grip but I use bare hands when throwing it.
 
wonder why they make them with a slick handle surface? i cant seem to figure that out...
 
When I got my first one years ago I thought the same thing and put hockey stick tape on the handle. Over time have purchased three more for throwing and put nothing on the handles. After you use them for awhile and if you are going to throw it give it a try. For throwing the handles are perfect.
 
reconseed said:
wonder why they make them with a slick handle surface? i cant seem to figure that out...
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I wouldn't worry about the overall performance because of this. As I've said before, this thing is bombproof. I need to get a couple more myself.
 
Thanks all! I may try the sanding idea first, and if that doesn't work add the heat-shrink tubing on top. Maybe it is designed more for throwing, but I've never been a fan of throwing knives or other weapons. Even if it sticks... you no longer have it to use. If things are so bad that I am using an edged weapon to stay alive there is no way I'm throwing it anywhere.

I noticed the handle is attached in the same manner as my CQC-T. I wonder if I could find/buy a CQC-T handle and attach it to the VTAC head? Hmm...
 
El Cid said:
Thanks all! I may try the sanding idea first, and if that doesn't work add the heat-shrink tubing on top. Maybe it is designed more for throwing, but I've never been a fan of throwing knives or other weapons. Even if it sticks... you no longer have it to use. If things are so bad that I am using an edged weapon to stay alive there is no way I'm throwing it anywhere.

I noticed the handle is attached in the same manner as my CQC-T. I wonder if I could find/buy a CQC-T handle and attach it to the VTAC head? Hmm...
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couldnt agree more el cid. and that would be cool to attach the handle of the CQC-T to the LaGana. i like all the ATC hawks but for some reason I like the VTAC the best... dont know why. (maybe because its all i can fiscally afford);)
 
Once you get one in your hand, you will want to throw it. It's like guys spitting off a bridge, you can't help yourself....
 
hatchetjack said:
Once you get one in your hand, you will want to throw it. It's like guys spitting off a bridge, you can't help yourself....
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that is a great post!!!! i may need to get 2.. i dont wanna scuff one of em up... (ok i resent saying that, everyone can laugh at me now:( ) LOL
 
reconseed said:
couldnt agree more el cid. and that would be cool to attach the handle of the CQC-T to the LaGana. i like all the ATC hawks but for some reason I like the VTAC the best... dont know why. (maybe because its all i can fiscally afford);)
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Make not mistake... I like the CQC-T much better than the VTAC. I just am not impressed with the handle of the VTAC. Maybe I'll just borrow some pine tar from Kenny Rogers. ;) :D

hatchetjack said:
Once you get one in your hand, you will want to throw it. It's like guys spitting off a bridge, you can't help yourself....
Click to expand...
I can't bring myself to do it. I enjoy throwing knives and shuriken for entertainment... but I try to train as I'd fight with my work tools. Even if I scored a proper hit on a guy with a thrown hawk, it isn't like it will instantly stop him as a threat.

Besides... now that I am in the reserves and work in LE, using my hawk - much less throwing it, it increasingly less likely. ;)
 
El Cid, I beg to differ man, if you hit someone with a hawk that has an edge on it, the thing will stop them... BUt me personally, i would rather just hang onto it and hack someone rather than throw it at them... but the chance i ever have to do that in SD is VERY UNLIKELY and almost impossible. My glock gets first dibs. ;)
 
reconseed said:
El Cid, I beg to differ man, if you hit someone with a hawk that has an edge on it, the thing will stop them... BUt me personally, i would rather just hang onto it and hack someone rather than throw it at them... but the chance i ever have to do that in SD is VERY UNLIKELY and almost impossible. My glock gets first dibs. ;)
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LOL! Hardly. Look at the simple physics of it. I don't know anyone who could throw a tomahawk hard enough to physically stop an attacking person. Handgun bullets most often are not reliable in this task... why would you expect an edged weapon to be? The hawk will penetrate much less than a bullet and depending on what it hits probably won't reach any vital organs. If handgun bullets can bounce off the skull, so will a blade.

This is probably a new discussion for a new thread, but if anyone expects a thrown blade (of any kind) to instantly stop an attacker, be ready for a rude and violent end when it doesn't turn out that way.
 
El Cid, i just find it hard to believe that if you were to hit someone with the VTAC that it wouldnt make any penetration whatsoever... perhaps throwing it might not as well as hacking but i just see a nasty wound from the VTAC if it were used as a weapon.... maybe i am wrong...
 
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