BK9 vs CS Trailhawk chop-off

[ocnLogan]

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.

Wow, thank you for the detailed explanation that was great and I really appreciate it. Having never really been into anything other than knives from the outdoors point of view this really helps me understand them a bit better.

So it seems like this to me:

Hatchet == small short handled axe
SFA == bigger than hatchet but smaller than axe
Axe == the full size one you want at a log cabin but rarely camping
Tomahawk == weaponized hatchet head with handle length of any size (?).

Oh and khan I appreciate the other details. The fact that the branch the hawk had to go through was larger says even more about its chopping ability . Also, the hatchet that I have is like exactly the same length as my BK9 (14in) and so it makes perfect sense to me that the short hawk you used last week didn't chop as well. Seems like the handle length would make a huge difference in how well they chop.

Anyway, thanks again for the thread. Its been quite informative .

 

[thrillbilly]

Wow, thank you for the detailed explanation that was great and I really appreciate it. Having never really been into anything other than knives from the outdoors point of view this really helps me understand them a bit better.

So it seems like this to me:

Hatchet == small short handled axe
SFA == bigger than hatchet but smaller than axe
Axe == the full size one you want at a log cabin but rarely camping
Tomahawk == weaponized hatchet head with handle length of any size (?).

Oh and khan I appreciate the other details. The fact that the branch the hawk had to go through was larger says even more about its chopping ability . Also, the hatchet that I have is like exactly the same length as my BK9 (14in) and so it makes perfect sense to me that the short hawk you used last week didn't chop as well. Seems like the handle length would make a huge difference in how well they chop.

Anyway, thanks again for the thread. Its been quite informative .

Also a tommyhawk is usually rather a flat profile, axes and hatchets are more wedge shaped...the head I mean. A top view of an axe looks like a ''V'' while a tommyhawk is more like the top view of a large knife with a much less pronounced wedge. If that makes sense. A tomahawk is designed for cutting and slicing, an axe/hatchet is designed more for chopping and splitting. A tomahawk will chop as well as a hatchet in same weight category but wont split logs as well because of not having as much ''wedge'' effect. Or that's been my experience anyways

 

[GingivitisKahn]

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...

Lol - I'm an enabler. What can I say?


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Beckerhead #42

 

[s7brad]

Thanks for the tip thrillbilly, I will give that a try. Some nice pics and info in this thread, think I'm going back outside to do some hackin!

 

[Brad "the butcher"]

I have a trailhawk and the norsehawk and prefer the norsehawk by a large margin. It sticks better for throwing with the upper point as well.
Might have to do a comparison this spring up north on my property vs my BK-9.

The 2 or 3 oz makes a difference on impact and the 4 in edge is more forgiving in terms of aim with just about twice the length of the cut.
Even without a hammer poll the norse still bashes in tent stakes no problem.

It does pretty well for basic knife chores choking up, like an ulu.

I beleive Rick Marchand likes them for outings as well, maybe he will chime in

 

[crimsonfalcon07]

I've got the Pipe and Spike Hawks, and those were very good buys. All of Cold Steel's budget items generally make me pretty happy. The $100+ items, not so much.

 

[scouter27]

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.

The CS Vietnam hawk does very well on a longer handle

That one is about 4 feet from end to end, and a mighty fine walking stick. It's also a Vector original in genuine Multicam Cordura

The only problem you may encounter is that they eye is smaller on this model, meaning a relative weak point. This would be exacerbated with a longer handle and more leverage.

 

[wasatchdan]

The CS Vietnam hawk does very well on a longer handle

That one is about 4 feet from end to end, and a mighty fine walking stick. It's also a Vector original in genuine Multicam Cordura

The only problem you may encounter is that they eye is smaller on this model, meaning a relative weak point. This would be exacerbated with a longer handle and more leverage.

Nice one. I love Vector's work. I wasn't thinking about something quite that long, but around 19 or 20" would be nice. I'm possibly going to blue the steel and decoratively burn the handle before wrapping.

Sadly, the paint didn't come of the Vietnam Hawk today, even after seven hours of sitting. It's just too cold outside for the stripper to work. I guess I'll have to wait until next weekend, when they say the temperature is supposed to be over 50 degrees. Oh well--instead of stripping and sanding today, I instead went to see Act of Valor and then got my mitts on a soldering iron and practiced stippling knife scales and using my dremel. Choils and jimping, here I come.

 

[Qeth]

The CS Vietnam hawk does very well on a longer handle

That one is about 4 feet from end to end, and a mighty fine walking stick. It's also a Vector original in genuine Multicam Cordura

The only problem you may encounter is that they eye is smaller on this model, meaning a relative weak point. This would be exacerbated with a longer handle and more leverage.

Off topic, but is that knife made by Eric Poris?

 

[Wolf_1989]

Nice one. I love Vector's work. I wasn't thinking about something quite that long, but around 19 or 20" would be nice. I'm possibly going to blue the steel and decoratively burn the handle before wrapping.

When I rehaft a tomahawk, I start long and slowly remove length until it feels right. For me, that's in the 20" -24" range, but usually more like 21" - 22". Anything shorter than 20" just feels too short to me. Probably because I'm 6'5". Your results may be different.

Once you do it enough times though, you just develop a feel for it.

 

[SaturatedShadow]

Great thread, Khan.

I have seen similar results comparing my trail hawk and BK-9. Lately, I've been hitting the woods with just my Eskabar and Trail Hawk and have not felt any need for more tools.

 

[wasatchdan]

When I rehaft a tomahawk, I start long and slowly remove length until it feels right. For me, that's in the 20" -24" range, but usually more like 21" - 22". Anything shorter than 20" just feels too short to me. Probably because I'm 6'5". Your results may be different.

Once you do it enough times though, you just develop a feel for it.

That sounds like a good way to do it. Thanks for the tip, Wolf.

 

[Larry Turko]

Isn't this comparison an apples versus oranges kind of thing? I think a more interesting and relevant showdown would be between the BK9 and the CS Trailmaster. I had my Trailmaster out on a hike today and it kicked some serious deadwood ass.
I'll probably get a BK 9 one day but in the realm of looks , I think the Trailmaster wins easily. Having said that I'm definitely picking up a Machax the first chance I get.

 

[CCMI]

Isn't this comparison an apples versus oranges kind of thing? I think a more interesting and relevant showdown would be between the BK9 and the CS Trailmaster. I had my Trailmaster out on a hike today and it kicked some serious deadwood ass.
I'll probably get a BK 9 one day but in the realm of looks , I think the Trailmaster wins easily. Having said that I'm definitely picking up a Machax the first chance I get.

It is apples vs oranges, but still relevant I think.

BK9 vs Trailmaster is akin to comparing two brands of needle nose pliers? Which one is a better needle nose?

BK9 vs Trailhawk is more like asking pros and cons of using needle nose pliers vs channel lock pliers for a given task. Which tool is better at this job?

 

[scouter27]

Off topic, but is that knife made by Eric Poris?

No, it's a Bark River prototype Golok. I no longer have it, because I wasn't using it enough.

When I rehaft a tomahawk, I start long and slowly remove length until it feels right. For me, that's in the 20" -24" range, but usually more like 21" - 22". Anything shorter than 20" just feels too short to me. Probably because I'm 6'5". Your results may be different.

Once you do it enough times though, you just develop a feel for it.

I'll never go shorter than 24 inches on a hawk. I have an 18" trail hawk (Vector Gen 1 Mark 5 #1), and I like it a lot. However, being so short feels more weapon-like to me. I'm 6' nothing, so I think it has more to do with preference than height.

Isn't this comparison an apples versus oranges kind of thing?

Yes, it is. But isn't it relevant to compare apples to oranges when trying to figure out which you like more? Same thing here. Both the BK9 and Trail Hawk are good for certain tasks. It's completely relevant to compare them for the purpose of finding out where each one shines, no?

 

[ocnLogan]

Isn't this comparison an apples versus oranges kind of thing? I think a more interesting and relevant showdown would be between the BK9 and the CS Trailmaster. I had my Trailmaster out on a hike today and it kicked some serious deadwood ass.
I'll probably get a BK 9 one day but in the realm of looks , I think the Trailmaster wins easily. Having said that I'm definitely picking up a Machax the first chance I get.

Like others have said, it is a different comparison it is still valuable because the uses overlap.

And its a personal preference about the looks. I don't really like the trailmasters looks, but have to agree that it is still a great blade. And I don't think I've seen a BK9 vs Trailmaster thread around here, but we do have a few of the BK9 vs the Junglas if that helps you out a bit.

.

 

[CCMI]

And its a personal preference about the looks. I don't really like the trailmasters looks, but have to agree that it is still a great blade. And I don't think I've seen a BK9 vs Trailmaster thread around here, but we do have a few of the BK9 vs the Junglas if that helps you out a bit.

.

This whole "looks" thing must be subjective as I'm just the opposite. I think the Trailmaster looks awesome -- just seeing a picture makes me wanna go all Jeremiah Johnson and take off into the wild wearing a bear skin coat

I too would like to see a comparison though.

 

[Wolf_1989]

I'll never go shorter than 24 inches on a hawk. I have an 18" trail hawk (Vector Gen 1 Mark 5 #1), and I like it a lot. However, being so short feels more weapon-like to me. I'm 6' nothing, so I think it has more to do with preference than height.

Just the opposite for me. If the haft is too short, it doesn't feel the least bit like a weapon to me, which is the main reason I dislike the Vietnam Tactical Bag Axe. I've got to have reach. I feel it is because of my size because I feel like I've been living in Smurf Village since the age of 16.

As for Trailmaster Vs BK-9, I'll take the BK-9 anytime because I absolutely loathe kraton.

 

[GingivitisKahn]

Isn't this comparison an apples versus oranges kind of thing? I think a more interesting and relevant showdown would be between the BK9 and the CS Trailmaster. I had my Trailmaster out on a hike today and it kicked some serious deadwood ass.
I'll probably get a BK 9 one day but in the realm of looks , I think the Trailmaster wins easily. Having said that I'm definitely picking up a Machax the first chance I get.

Good idea - send me a CS Trailmaster and I'll give it a go.

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Beckerhead #42

 

[C_Tanner]

I've been debating on getting one of these: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/812300-Pathfinder-Hawk

A few people had them in my Survival Basics class, and they are really nice.

But then....I watch "The Walking Dead" on Sunday night and start thinking about that new SOG Fasthawk....