Cold Steel vs. American Tomahawk Company Vietnam Hawk?

[pullnshoot25]

AFAIK, Cold Steel owns the ATC but both sell the Vietnam Tomahawk. What is the difference between these two tomahawks or is the only difference in the name?

 

[crossada]

2 different companies 2 different hawks

 

[hlee]

Would you say the same thing about Fiskars and Gerber axes? One owns the other in this case as well.

 

[crossada]

here is the story between the two companies and the use of the sticker on the cold steel heads from the man himself

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=199524&highlight=thompson

 

[Smash05]

I would expect the quality of the Ferhman made ATC Hawk to be much better than the Cold Steel Version. That does not make the Cold Steel version bad, but ATC is a handmade American product, the other is made in Taiwan.

 

[redscorpion6]

I have only found the difference in price. No difference in performance.

 

[Horned Toad]

I have only found the difference in price. No difference in performance.

Sometimes there are things more important than the price.

 

[redscorpion6]

Sometimes there are things more important than the price.

:thumbup:

You are absolutely 100% correct. But I have not seen nor experienced any degradation of performance in either. I own both and use them.

I am just as much a Patriot too, but comparison of Performance was what I thought the topic of this.

 

[crossada]

i have read on here that the cs hawk sometimes has loose heads. sounds like you got a good one:thumbup:

 

[Horned Toad]

:thumbup:

You are absolutely 100% correct. But I have not seen nor experienced any degradation of performance in either. I own both and use them.

I am just as much a Patriot too, but comparison of Performance was what I thought the topic of this.

The question was “is there a difference other than name of maker”
The difference is one is a company and design that goes back to the Vietnam War and the other is a knockoff. Sort of like saying you had Ranger Training but not having time in a Ranger Unit or having gone to Ranger School. One is cheaper, on is not, you say performance is similar, it may be, I wouldn’t know because I wouldn’t by a knockoff.

 

[Dusty One]

If you are going to throw them get the VTAC the cold steel did not hold up for me...
And I feel there is a big difference in the quality of the head and the handle, also the way the handle is attached......Good Luck and Enjoy....

 

[redscorpion6]

If you are going to throw them get the VTAC the cold steel did not hold up for me...

I have been lucky I guess on getting good batches. Not sure if it is a knock off or not. I don't know who did the item first. But when it comes to blades I think we are all knocking off the first guy to sit in cave chipping on a rock. We have made improvements to a design in some way or another or have the belief we have. Not trying to justify one over the other.

On the Cold Steel I have had one handle break but it is wood, it wasn't the head that had damage. I didn't attribute that as failure of the product. Wood handles are prone to breaking at some point if you throw much.
The handle on the VTAC is lighter and probably can endure more than the wood handle. But the Wood handle is easy to replace and inexpensive. Not sure what the replacement cost is for the other.

I have yet to break the plastic handle. But the wood handle and loose fixtures are easy fix.

The VTAC head seems slightly slimmer and has more finished feel to it. The Cold Steel is painted and has more raw cast feeling.

I don't think you would go wrong with either as far as overall performance. More importantly is how are YOU going to use it?

Throwing, General Camp Use, Coolness Looks

One thing about the edge on both need to be sharper. I can say I was disappointed in how both came with mediocre sharpness levels.

 

[tedwca]

Sometimes there are things more important than the price.

You are correct, but I will buy a CS hawk before I buy another product from ATC. They make a great product, but....details here

 

[vector001]

they both could use a lot of improvement, but they are both mighty nice (i reckon).

this one is a Cold Steel, re-worked with a composite handle and Cordura Skin.

the design is really good in the Desert too, i find.

vec

 

[redscorpion6]

What does a Mod like that run?

 

[Horned Toad]

You are correct, but I will buy a CS hawk before I buy another product from ATC. They make a great product, but....details here

Interesting and sad, would be nice to see Justin come up with the cash and maybe take over ATC, from the looks of things it seems he can run a businesses and supply a good product.

I wonder if there is anywhere else to pick up a Comanche Tactical, I really like that thing.

 

[crossada]

You are correct, but I will buy a CS hawk before I buy another product from ATC. They make a great product, but....details here

thanks for the link. i had only vague details of what happened with ranger knives and bear mtn. vs. atc without ever getting to the bottom of it.

i know from first hand experience that Justin from ranger knives is trustworthy, can't say the same about Andy.