BK9 vs CS Trailhawk chop-off

[Bladite]

40 whacks! wow.

what kind of edge?

 

[Wolf_1989]

And finally, because I'm still learnding, what exactly makes a hawk so much different than a hatchet? Because my BK9 out chops my hatchet by quite a margin, and is lighter and more useful so of course it is the one that I carry. But just from looking at the hawks in here, it looks like they just have a longer handle and a "funny" head? Anyone care to point out more of the differences for me and I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks again for the great thread .

A tomahawk is basically a weaponized hatchet I suppose. Handle length doesn't mean anything, as historical examples had various lengths. Typically at a frontier trading post, you'd only buy a tomahawk head or bare knife blade and make your own handle for either. This means the handle would be as long - or short - as one desired. Myself I prefer a haft of 20" to 24" depending on how the total package balances out.

Head size, shape, and weight, also mean nothing. Historical tomahawks had all sorts of shapes, some of them even exotic looking such as spontoon and sheepsfoot styles. Some had hammer polls, some had spikes, many had neither. Some had pipe bowls.

They could be simple and unadorned, or beautifully engraved, inlayed, and embellished.

Often there was little difference between a typical frontier "tomahawk" and the exact same axe, called a hatchet, used in the eastern towns.

But IMO what distinguishes a tomahawk from a hatchet is the tomahawk is usually lighter weight and adapted to be both tool and weapon.


Also, don't think of the tomahawk as being a native american item only, because EVERYONE on the frontier used the tomahawk.

 

[crowmagnon]

Looks like I have to buy an axe now...

 

[Rsmith_77]

I know, I know... I was almost embarrassed to be seen in public with an unmodded Trailhawk. On the plus side, I may be the only one with a Trailhawk that actually looks like that. Lazy man's customization!

Not true!
i am still sportin my unmodded trailhawk
i just wanted to get more comfortable with before modding

no use changing what doesnt need changing

 

[Ethan Becker]

Nice post....

Like the pics.......That hawk looks to

 

[LostViking]

Trail Hawks Rock!!

Here is Vector version of a trail hawk helping with the construction of a Chippewa Kitchen. With a few of Justin's blades, Sorry Ethan.



But the Brute helped.


And the Koster did the fine work,

 

[Ethan Becker]

Nice post....

That hawk looks to be worth the money.......I have used a bunch of hawks over the years and have a real fondness for them.......My throwing hawk is an H&B Forge I bougjt at Friendship years ago.......I have a little Fort Meigs pattern that is more of a pocket axe than a hawk.......

I have tried using hawks and hatchets to do knifey type work and have been very awkwardly successful but,I do not enjoy it.....They are two very different tools.....The Machax was my attempt to marry the two into something more versatile than either.....Still love my hawks and still loves my knives and still loves my kuks......I'd rather chop with a big knife than whittle with a hawk.......

Hey Wolf.....

Great explanation of the hawk genre........how about hatchet with intent ?..............

BTW.......If I gotta carry an axe like object and nothing else I want a 26 inch Hudsons Bay pattern camp axe.....they throw well and always earn thir keep.......Love the little Estwing 26 incher too......

Ethan

 

[Ethan Becker]

Hey Viking....

I like both Justin and his blades and both are welcome at my house any time.......I feel that I never get to spend enogh time with either.......Nice pics and loks to be a fun time you had.....

All Best.....

Ethan

 

[The Warrior]

In case anyone cares:

tomahawk
1612, tamahaac, from Algonquian (probably Powhatan) tamahack "what is used in cutting," from tamaham "he cuts."

 

[GingivitisKahn]

Sweet post man, I love comparisons like this.

I couldn't help but notice that they were not cutting the same piece of wood, but I'm also sure they were pretty similar in size. But how similar were they?

And yea, I don't think I like the BK9 soley for its place as a great chopper. As you pointed out it also does other things well, and its that versatility that makes me love it.

And finally, because I'm still learnding, what exactly makes a hawk so much different than a hatchet? Because my BK9 out chops my hatchet by quite a margin, and is lighter and more useful so of course it is the one that I carry. But just from looking at the hawks in here, it looks like they just have a longer handle and a "funny" head? Anyone care to point out more of the differences for me and I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks again for the great thread .

You're correct - those were two different limbs. I picked them because 1) I wanted a couple of big ones to improve my little boardwalk thingy and 2) they were very close to the same diameter at the base. After having finished the chopping, I noticed the BK9 one was just a little smaller around than the TH one.

It's not a remotely scientific test and even if it were, it would have tested only one function of both tools but I wonder if choosing the smaller limb for the BK9 was me subconsciously trying to stack the deck.

Anyway, as to hawk vs hatchet - dunno but good hatchet ought to process wood better than a good hawk. I used another hawk I have on the same tree last week and it didn't preform nearly as well as either of the tools I used this week. One difference is that last week's hawk has a very light and very short (about 12 inches) handle as compared to the TH's 20 inch long (my guestimate) and much heavier handle. That's a lot of extra lever and was enough to let me use both hands when it seemed appropriate. The only hatchets I've ever used have had much shorter (more like a foot or less) handles.

40 whacks! wow.

what kind of edge?

It's convex and thinned a bit from stock but not nearly as sharp as it needs to be (nor was it close to as sharp as my BK9). I've got some work to do on it but I want to be careful not to thin things out too much. Some guys claim to have their hawks shaving sharp - not sure if that's my goal for a tool of this nature.

Oh and in my defense, both limbs were in somewhat awkward spots, the tree is seasoning nicely, and the entire structure gave and moved a bit on each chop. I'm sure I could have gotten through with both tools much more quickly if I'd been able to stabilize the tree first.

Nice post....

That hawk looks to be worth the money.......I have used a bunch of hawks over the years and have a real fondness for them.......My throwing hawk is an H&B Forge I bougjt at Friendship years ago.......I have a little Fort Meigs pattern that is more of a pocket axe than a hawk.......

I have tried using hawks and hatchets to do knifey type work and have been very awkwardly successful but,I do not enjoy it.....They are two very different tools.....The Machax was my attempt to marry the two into something more versatile than either.....Still love my hawks and still loves my knives and still loves my kuks......I'd rather chop with a big knife than whittle with a hawk.......

Hey Wolf.....

Great explanation of the hawk genre........how about hatchet with intent ?..............

BTW.......If I gotta carry an axe like object and nothing else I want a 26 inch Hudsons Bay pattern camp axe.....they throw well and always earn thir keep.......Love the little Estwing 26 incher too......

Ethan

You know, it's funny you say that because for the rest of the afternoon, I found myself speculating about the Machax - it looks to be *really* well thought-out. Don't know if it does, but it looks like it also ought to out-chop the BK9 and be more well suited for snap cutting than the hawks.

There's just something about the BK9 though - I love the all-American Bowieness of the thing - and am super comfortable with it on my hip or in my hand. I don't see my Trailhawk as something that will reduce the frequency with which I carry my BK9, but I suspect it will all but replace my other hawk.
---

Beckerhead #42

 

[tradewater]

Hawks are a blast and can do some work for sure. I really enjoy my TH. Toss it in the pack and make a handle when you need it. Great post Gingi, I love to see honest reviews and testing by people that spend time outdoors with their tools. I do wish you would stop posting pics of that long bow however. I'm wanting one pretty bad...

 

[wasatchdan]

Mod? Someone say mod?

Oh yeah. That looks like the stuff. Nice twins.

I've got a modded CS Vietnam tomahawk with paint stripper on it at this very moment. The haft is cracked, so it will have to be replaced (I'm thinking with a longer one), but I think it's going to come out nice once it's all done.

Dang, it looks like there's a bunch of 'hawk fans in the Becker forum, too. Sweet. Nice 'hawks, guys.

 

[Wolf_1989]

I have tried using hawks and hatchets to do knifey type work and have been very awkwardly successful but,I do not enjoy it.....They are two very different tools.....The Machax was my attempt to marry the two into something more versatile than either.....Still love my hawks and still loves my knives and still loves my kuks......I'd rather chop with a big knife than whittle with a hawk.......

My favorite:

It does do some skinning moderately well, but excels at hide scraping and works great as an ulu.

 

[tradewater]

My favorite:

It does do some skinning moderately well, but excels at hide scraping and works great as an ulu.

That is some great looking traditional steel. Can you still take the haft out with the pins?

 

[Wolf_1989]

Those aren't pins. They're reproduction brass tacks, cone style.

When I put a head on a haft, I try to put it on for good. I use a steel pipe with a 1/8" thick brass top on it. I tap the head on sort of tight-ish then slide the haft down in the pipe, and pound it down with force using a large sledgehammer (be very careful to place your blows squarely when doing this to prevent splitting the wooden haft). The brass piece on top, being softer than steel, is used to help prevent deforming the bottom of the tomahawk's eye.

A couple years later this handle is still nice and tight, even from using it hard and even throwing it.

 

[thrillbilly]

this lil guy is FUN! chops OK but it aint a hatchet, it's a blast to chuck at a tree though!

 

[s7brad]

Cool post man. I wouldn't have thought the trail hawk would do that well. In the post I did on the kabar forum with the chop test with my BK7, short heavy bowie and usmc I did take a chance to play with a SOG fasthawk I got for xmas and just threw behind truck seat. I was pleasantly surprised at its ability also. Without a lanyard I wouldve lost it though, kinda slippery with leather gloves on.

 

[One Legged Josh]

Nice comparison......If you convex that trailhawk, you will find a beast of a chopper hiding under that factory paint job.

 

[The Warrior]

If you convex that trailhawk, you will find a beast of a chopper hiding under that factory paint job.

That's what I need to do to mine.

 

[thrillbilly]

Cool post man. I wouldn't have thought the trail hawk would do that well. In the post I did on the kabar forum with the chop test with my BK7, short heavy bowie and usmc I did take a chance to play with a SOG fasthawk I got for xmas and just threw behind truck seat. I was pleasantly surprised at its ability also. Without a lanyard I wouldve lost it though, kinda slippery with leather gloves on.

yeah the FH is small and slippery...try wrapping it with 550 (see pic above), makes it ''meatier'' and gives good grip, one note, if u throw it at pine the 550 can get a lil sappy.