Bugout axe cs trail boss vs rifleman's hawk.

[vansman]

Hello everyone.
I'm building a bushcraft/bugout kit, and an axe/hatchet just seems like something that should go in there
Budget is < $30, so unfortunately snow and neallys are off the list.
I've read that a hatchet is actually more dangerous, and if you were to have one tool, an axe or long handled hawk serves a much better purpose (open to opinion here).

So I've basically whittled down my choices to some of cold steels offerings (though I'm taking a strong look at the fiskar x series).

They're not going to see much use at all. Only occasional bushcrafting just for the sake of getting aquainted with the sport, and to prepare for worst case scenarios.

The riflemans hawk seems great.
It has a 22" handle which puts it in between an axe and a hatchet, and it has the pommel end for the smashies. It also seems more useful in urban breakdown scenarios (something I have more experience with) where you would be breaking random things and sometimes needing something that resembles a sledgehammer to get through buildings and walls
It's heavier, thus requiring more caloric expenditure, but after watching videos of people using it, the heft actually seems to help a LOT with felling and chopping.

However, the trail boss is a proper axe, and I am wondering if it's better to have if you were to carry just one tool.
Its also wedged onto the handle much better, as opposed to just having a set screw.

I can get the riflemans hawk right now for about $26 shipped, which seems almost like an instant buy, but I do not want to wish that I spent $10 or so more for a much better bugout tool.

Does anyone have any thoughts, suggestions, and/or recommendations?

Thanks!

 

[vansman]

Nevermind, this video convinced me to get a hawk.
Now it's just a tossup between rifleman and frontier hawk.

 

[crbnSteeladdict]

Nevermind, this video convinced me to get a hawk.
Now it's just a tossup between rifleman and frontier hawk.

Have you considered US made Flying Fox with hardened poll? https://www.baryonyxknife.com/cotoha.html
You will need to mount this head on longer handle.
Occasionally some of the hatchets can get slightly nicked on the way to dealer. Ask Benjamin: he might send you just cut off head (cheaper shipping + slight discount on the axe head)
Flying Fox on longer handle and light folding saw and you are set(even cheap, $6 HF pruning saw can have so much use in the woods)

 

[Desert_Fox]

Nevermind, this video convinced me to get a hawk.
Now it's just a tossup between rifleman and frontier hawk.

[/QUOTE

Nevermind, this video convinced me to get a hawk.
Now it's just a tossup between rifleman and frontier hawk.

I love my cold steel riflemans hawk. With some small modifications it feels like a serious tool/weapon. Besides the cold steel weeping heart tomahawk it’s my favorite. For the money I think it might be the best. It sure is heavier than the rest of the tomahawks but compared to using an axe all the time it’s light. I would recommend it. Mine sits on top of my dresser, it has a Sedona red stain and a mirror finish.

 

[vansman]

Have you considered US made Flying Fox with hardened poll? https://www.baryonyxknife.com/cotoha.html
You will need to mount this head on longer handle.
Occasionally some of the hatchets can get slightly nicked on the way to dealer. Ask Benjamin: he might send you just cut off head (cheaper shipping + slight discount on the axe head)
Flying Fox on longer handle and light folding saw and you are set(even cheap, $6 HF pruning saw can have so much use in the woods)

Oh wow, that's great! I was looking for "just a head" somewhere, as it seems like it's also great to carry and takes up less space.
I went ahead with the rifleman's hawk, but if I knew sooner, I would have bought the trail hawk and that head!

I will consider for future purchase though.

 

[BitingSarcasm]

I have both the Trail Boss and the Rifleman's Hawk. The TB is by far the better tool at anything you will need an axe to do. The RH is more of a niche tool, in that it does a lot of things okay, but the only thing it does better than the TB is hammer. Actually, I don't hammer with the TB at all, the poll isn't hammer hardened. The Rifleman Hawk will do a better job as an axe if you take the time to thin the cheeks and get more of an apple seed edge profile, the stock head is very thick. The other change I made was to use a 30" handle instead of the 22", it makes it more useful hooking stuff off the ground and you can get a real 2 handed swing going for extra force. Cold Steel lists the 30" as the replacement War Hammer handle, but both tools have the same size and shape eye.

 

[thebrain]

I didn't like the extra weight of the rifleman's hawk but with the price on river site I would say get it! I used my buddies and it felt more axe like than tomahawk and I like tomahawks for most things. I was going to suggest the Vaughn rigging axe, it has a hardened hammer poll and a pretty long handle.

 

[vansman]

I just got my riflemans hawk, and while screwing around with it, yes, it's very unwieldy (nearly unusable) one handed unless you choke up on the handle.
I can see see someone doing some splitting and whatnot with it one handed, but not sideways.
It feels great 2-handed though, and feels more like an axe than anything else (which is kind of what I wanted anyways).

It also came dull, but not loose, so that was ok with me as I plan on getting sharpening stones anyways.

It was so cheap that it was worth keeping to figure out what my ideal hawk weight/style is, and I will likely get a trail hawk as well before I head out to the bush one of these days, so I know what I prefer and learn what works best for me.