Cold Steel Rifleman or Frontier?

I have one of each (actually a few more...LOL). The Rifleman's Hawk is very heavy compared to the Trail Hawk. I was surprised at just how much heavier and unwieldy the Rifleman's Hawk is in comparison. The Rifleman's Hawk kinda needs a longer handle just to have a better balance.

I wasn't planning on doing any throwing, so can't really comment on how one throws compared to the other, but would imagine that throwing the Rifleman's Hawk to be more difficult just due to weight issues. On the other hand, the Rifleman may stick better due to more mass if you can connect properly. If you were planning on doing any fighting with either ( :eek: ), the Rifleman's Hawk would be more difficult to recover from a miss, or change directions with. These hawks are pretty different from one another, which isn't really apparent from the CS catalog.

By the way, plan on sharpening either example. They don't come usefully sharp from CS. Head to handle attachment is a bit weak too. These hawks are inexpensive, but a bit of a project to get something useful out of. JMHO.

Jeff
 
I ordered a Rifleman a while back and just got it last Thursday. It is pretty well put together and has a pretty good edge on it for what I paid. But that sucker is HEAVY! I haven't had time to throw it yet. Bet it packs a punch if it actually sticks. The head could be a bit smaller.

You might also check out an HG Forge Seneca Hawk or Cheyenne Hawk as they are comparably priced, and look a bit more manageable than the CS hawks.
 
If you are willing to look at other hawks in the same price range then you should check out:
www.ragweedforge.com

They have a bunch of differeent hawks and small axes in traditional patterns, which have gotten some good comments by users. My only experience with CS hawks was very disappointing, dull as a frozen ****, loose fitting out of the box and lots of extra metal on the edges.

Check out ragweeds slazinski and Allen hawks.
 
I have a CS Trail Hawk, I do not like it! I cannot keep the handle on! Any suggestions from the group. I am new to Tomahawks and need help!

Thanks
 
There is a 3mm allen screw on all of mine which help to secure the head. Try tightening that first. There may be better solutions though, like trying to get the head to fit more tightly on the handle and using some type of epoxy or superglue. I'm not quite sure how to go about this and any tips from more knowlegeable Forum members would help.

This issue shouldn't even be a concern though. Just more crapola from the head of Cold Steel.

Jeff
 
I have a cold steel norse hawk and battle axe, to secure it I used household goop and banged the head on as far as I could with a teeball bat/hammer and by banging the top end of the handle against the ground. It's held pretty well so far and has been used to cut a little wood and some throwing.
 
I've read on this forum that filing out the handle hole a bit and then coating the inside with "Gorilla Glue" and then banging the handle in will help things out. My Rifleman has an allen screw holding it on, and the handle seems very firmly pressed in to the hawk. It also came with an "American Tomahawk Company" sticker on it, as well as "Taiwan" etched on the blade.

I also ordered an ATC Roger's Rangers hawk, but those suckers are backordered due to some History channel show that featured tomahawks. I just want to chop and throw axes 'n stuff. :grumpy: The more I look around, the more I like the hawks from HG and Ragweed forges.
 
Hey guys!!

Y'all kinda missing the point here. The CS hawks are made to be multi functional. Tighten down the set screw and the heads will stay relatively tight. Loosen the screw if you want to throw it. These hawks are basically made for throwing with a side use for a camp axe. The reason the head is loose is so you do less damage to the handle while throwing it. If you do break or split the handle, it is very easy to replace it if you can slide the head off. Believe me, if you are an advid thrower, you will destroy handles. They are not shipped razor sharp due to 2 reasons:
They do not come with sheaths. A sharp axe will slice through shipping materials.
They are made for throwing. You don't need a razor edge on a throwing implement.
As far as for throwing, I use these hawks for competitions. They are the most durable throwing hawks on the market for the price at this time. Hawks are very easy to throw. Loosen that set screw and toss the glue! Find a good solid target and start tossing these suckers around! Just don't throw multiple hawks at the same target(split handles, flattened edges). They really are a hell of a lotta fun! Try starting at about 14 feet for 1 full spin.
Good luck!!
 
which CS hawk is best for throwing? I would guess the frontier hawk? Does the frontier hawk have a set screw too?
The advice from Bilker is right on the money. You want your handle to fly out of the head if it strikes the target at an angle that would otherwise break the handle. You can make your handle sufficently tight to chop kindling simply by pounding the head end of the handle on the ground. I still have the original handle on my M&W Black Hawk after 6 years of throwing etc. But I will soon need a new handle as after all the "tightening" of the handle I only have about 3/4 in. left to go at the top of the handle.
 
Hi,

I too am looking for a throwing hawk which can be used for camp chores such as splitting, chopping, hammering, etc. I wrote to Ragner at www.ragweedforge.com to get his opinion and he recommended the CS trail hawk over the rifleman due to the riflemans weight.

I wasnt sure if the small blade on the trial hawk would be an effective chopper/splitter? What do you quys think? How about the Allen a-23-o , the "Iroquois"?

Jim
 
i have an old plainsman hawk from cs (discontinued model) and the handle does not stay on for any length of time :( but for throwing i would still buy one and use duct tape or something to hold the handle on.

as far as a cs hawk for camping or other uses good luck with that. i'll use my atc rr spike hawk and be happy. simply no comparison except for the american tomahawk co. sticker :mad: i think you can find rr spike hawks from some of their dealers if you look hard enough. i even seen a vtac on bladeart.com
 
The CS trail hawk has a small blade ad needs a bit of work to get the blade useable but is ok for throwing still has a bit of weight due to hammer poll

so with a good "clean up" would be OK but if you look around the links on this thread your find better for less$ and effort:yawn:
 
In response to Trail Daddy's original question, the Trail Hawk is the far better choice for hiking/lightweight camping, and probably for throwing also. I have both the Trail Hawk and the Rifleman. The Rifleman is far too heavy for the handle. It is more like an axe and needs at least a small axe handle. The Trail Hawk on the other hand is very well balanced and a nice functional pattern. It is not my preference for an ideal throwing hawk, but it performs OK. Where it excels is as a hiking/camping/hunting tool. It takes a good edge and its light weight makes it easy to carry by simply slipping the handle into your belt (make a sheath for the edge first of course.) I have used it for opening the pelvis of a deer, for skinning, and cutting poles to make a quick shelter. The poll is useful for cracking hickory nuts, driving stakes, or even nails in a pinch. I rarely go in the woods without it. Someone commented on the loose handle. For uses other than throwing, these steps will assure a very tight, secure fit. First, make sure the handle is very, very dry. (Lay over a heater vent or in warm dry area for a day or two). Loosen the set screw, remove the handle, and coat the inside of the hawk and the appropriate area of the handle with Gorilla glue. Drive the handle in tight as possible, tighten the set screw, and let it harden for a couple of days. The head will never loosen even with heavy use. As someone else pointed out though, if you are going to use a hawk for throwing you will break some handles. For throwing hawks you should never use glue, but simply drive the handle fairly tight and clamp down the set screw. Menawa
 
for knockin stuff around, the Rifleman is pretty good. But when i throw it, the handle comes out. I wish was rich enough to have an ATC hawk
 
If the handle is always comes out it is not sticking into anything, is it? When you learn to throw it the blade will stick with the handle intact.
Try going to a lighter hawk for throwing. Try starting at about 14 feet or per Harper 6 or 7 good steps. Try throwing with an overhand motion. Do not try to flip it or throw it extra hard, just let it release smoothly with the extention or your arm. If you are hitting handle or top of head first just step forward or back a half or full step. You will soon be able to tell which distance is the best for your proferred throwing style.
Good luck!
 
The first time I took my trail hawk in the bush there was a small tree (too heavy to lift) blocking the road and it took my mate and me about 20min to chop through. What a fluke I had brought my hawk. Since then I keep it in my 4wd at all times.

B.C
 
In reviewing my earlier posts about Cold Steel hawks, I may have been a bit "harsh" Recently I got around to sharpening my hawks and was pleasantly surprised at the edge you can put on one. I used a Nicholson mill bastard file to thin the edge a bit, then used emory paper on a mousepad to get a very smooth convex edge. Usefully sharp in about the time it took me to drink a bourbon on the rocks...LOL. About 15-20 minutes work per hawk.

The heads on all of my CS hawks tightened-up fine by just securing the 3mm allen screw, but I got some Gorilla Glue at the hardware store for more permanant attachment.

Now that I have sharp edges, I am gonna need to make some sheaths out of scrap leather and rivets before they can be carried into the woods safely. A project for another day.

In short, with a bit of work these CS hawks are much nicer than I initially had thought.

Jeff
 
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