CS hawk head problem

hiwa

hiwa

Joined
Jun 7, 2009
Messages
2,720
Hi. I have this cold steel tomahawk for a few years. The head tightens from moving the head up the handle, as you probably know. It came loose a few times, so I tied wax thread near the end of the handle to tighten it up, but would like a better solution. I tried shaving the shaft with a cabinet scraper to fit the eye better, but it still comes loose after a few whacks. Any ideas fellas ? Thanks.

Pete

tomahawk.jpg
 
It dosen't look like it has very much taper to the handle,is the eye the same?You might try a thin piece of leather,or use the waxed thread where the head bottoms out.If all else fails epoxy the head.or wedge...hope this helps-----Regards Butch
 
I think someone here suggested before that you can boil the head and then immediately hammer it onto the handle and it'll burn into a tight fit. I've never tried it personally but it's something.
 
Just seen the post below on boiled linseed oil. Might give that a try if all else fails.

Pete
 
I heated my trailhawk head in the oven for about 45 minutes on 350 slid the haft in and hammered it home. When hammering be sure to strike the top of the haft. Slide the head on, hopld it upside down and strike up at the head end of the haft.
 
Had the same problem. Tried shaving the shaft but still couldn't get the head to fit solid. Finally just hammered the head on as tight as possible, stuck in a few wedges, wrapped some old heavy salt water fishing line just below the head for a tight fit & nice solid build up, & put epoxy on the fishing line & up into the head/shaft.
Not pretty, but solid with no give the last 2 years.
Good luck.
 
I had the same problem with mine. I made a new handle hand fitted it and drove it on hard then I drilled it and tapped in 1/4" roll pin so far it seems to be working.


hawkhead.jpg
 
After I was all done sanding, refinishing the handle and added a patina to the head, I did what Snakedoc did. I placed the head in the oven for a few minutes. I didn't have it up to 350, but it was definitely hot enough.

I placed the haft in the freezer. When the head was ready I dropped the haft through the eye and smacked it tight with a rubber mallet and allowed the head to shrink and the haft to expand onto each other.

It's not going anywhere anytime soon.
 
I had this problem with my CS rifleman's hawk. I ended up turning the haft backwards while out in the field and beating the head down until it was thoroughly wedged in place. When I got home I replaced the little set screw with an longer pan head screw. I also sanded the lower third of the handle into a more comfortable shape and then did a paracord wrap on it. I've used it for a couple of months now and it has yet to come loose after all that.

Now if I can get that black paint off the head it will be looking good, what did you guys use to strip it?
 
I used a 41/2" grinder with a wire wheel. It took a while, but I got all of the paint and forging imperfecetions out and it is smooth. Did a boiled vinegar patina,and leather wrap under the head and lower haft. This was on a CS Viking hawk.
 
Sometimes there is a burr inside the eye of the hawk that if you remove the head will fit better on the handle and slide down better without scrapping up shaving wood off the handle and this burr will make the head wobble because the eye of the hawk and the handle don't match up well. Pat
 
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