Chop goes the handle .

K

Kevin the grey

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Aug 26, 2005
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I have a buddy of mine who won,t throw more than one hawk at the same target .Some places I throw only have one target . He reasons and rightfully so that hawk handles are going to get chopped into kindling pretty quickly . I on the other hand like to throw two or three one after the other to get into the rhythm of throwing . I also have to replace hawk handles . To that end I am getting the old Weldbond out and open up that split a bit, slather on some glue and wrap the section in some wet rawhide strips . After that I am going to trace out the handles dimensions on a block of wood and hack out a new handle .

The question is where do I get the wood ? The only place I know that sells ash or hickory is a high end place for carvers and cabinet makers . Great wood , high prices and they don,t sell small pieces unless it is sold by the pound . These guys have got wood here that sells for thirty bucks a pound !

Does anyone know of tool handles that could be modified/shaved down ?
I actually thought of laminating a couple of hockey sticks together . I figure laminations and throwing don,t mix .
 
Most people that sell tomahawks also sell replacement handles, as do a lot of manufacturers like Cold Steel. Hardwoods are fairly expensive in regular lumber sized pices.

-Cliff
 
Making a replacement handle seems like a lot of work. As Cliff said, makers sell replacement handles. Buying few extra handles when I buy a hawk has become my rule. One thing I've noticed is that shipping/handling charges usually exceed the price of the handle. I think the most challenging part of making a handle by hand would be getting the eye shape and taper just right. I spent a lot of time sanding a replacement handle for a cold steel trail hawk down to fit a Fort Turner hawk. It was an instructive exercise, but since then I've made sure to keep plenty of replacements around. I think I've probably got a half dozen for the H&B and Bear Mountain eye and an equal number for the Fort Turner eye. It just wouldn't feel right not having plenty of backup. I am an impatient man. When I break a handle, I want to replace it within the next 5 minutes and keep throwing.
 
I can,t deny having replacements around is a good way to go . I have only been throwing for about a year and this is the first handle that has sustained close to mortal damage . The Hawks I got were from private makers who are not as easy to round up . I,m not saying I wouldn,t buy a handle . I would just rather learn to make my own . worker . I can tell you my first few would be hacked out in a crude fashion .I am making an axe handle from a piece of ash given to me .

I agree the only way to get handle material from a wood yard would be to have it as part of a larger order . That is a reason I thought of modifying a larger handle . I agree shipping is a major concern and now with the price of gas so is a trip to the woodyard . I,ll let you guys know how I do .
 
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