CS hawk vs Fiskars axe?

C

cuphead

Joined
Jan 14, 2008
Messages
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I've been debating buying a hawk for some time now, but the small head makes me wonder... if it's at all worth it..:foot: however the 19in OAL and the "courreur des bois" charateristics are very appealing to me and might possibly replace my fiskar chopping axe with 23.5 OAL... so yes... the overall lenght makes it more easy to bring it along with me and if I want to shorten it.. it can be done rather easily.

Does it coming with a leather sheath? if not are their any good sheath makers for hawks readily available?
Do I need to reprofile the grind to make it a more efficient chopper?
what kind of mods you guys made to yours?
How would you rate it next to a fisk?
Do you find it would need more head weight? is it too light, etc?
Which would be your preference and why? Frontier, Riflemans or trail?
Thanks in advance!:D:thumbup::cool:
 
Never used any Cold Steel products so I can't help with that but thanks for the history lesson. I had to google "courreur des bois.":D
 
cuphead said:
Does it coming with a leather sheath?
Do I need to reprofile the grind to make it a more efficient chopper?
what kind of mods you guys made to yours?
How would you rate it next to a fisk?
Do you find it would need more head weight? is it too light, etc?
Which would be your preference and why? Frontier, Riflemans or trail?
Thanks in advance!:D:thumbup::cool:
Click to expand...

No
Yes convex it
* mods below*
Havent used a fisk
Nope chops great, specially after convexing
Trail cause its lighter (For me, you may need a heavier head for your uses)

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Cant speak to CSs current quality control as I bought this quite awile ago, but it has been great. At the price point its probably worth it to see how you like one.;)
 
I have both a cs norse hawk and a fiskars axe... My vote goes witht he fiskars as far as raw chopping power goes, but the hawk is a bit more versatile.. the longer handle on the hawk allows for some good power on the swing... However it feels a bit awkward to use at first.
 
I'm really liking my trail hawk, though it has only seen use for limbing and trail clearing so far - not for serious chopping.

This is what mine looks like after mods. It now has a leather wrap on the lower portion of the handle as well. The edge has been convexed, and it bites deeply into wood. I like the weight and profile. Unfortunately, I don't have any experience with a Fiskars, so I can't provide a comparison.

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I'm in the process of making a leather cover for the blade. Thus far, I have just tucked the 'hawk into my belt or held it in my hand while snowshoeing (the long handle allows it to double as a tool for knocking the snow off of low-hanging branches, which is great).

All the best,

- Mike
 
Hawks bite deep but they bind, which slows things down and cuts into efficiency. The trail hawk also has a particularly small edge, so you have to be more accurate than with a standard hatchet/axe. They're still neat though, and fun to mod/throw.

The fiskars aren't bad. There are lots of folks who don't like em, but mine has been very useful to me. All that said however, I'd probably just go ahead and save up the few extra dollars for a Wetterlings in whatever size you'd like. It's a more woodworking-oriented tool.
 
SpookyPistolero said:
Hawks bite deep but they bind, which slows things down and cuts into efficiency. The trail hawk also has a particularly small edge, so you have to be more accurate than with a standard hatchet/axe. They're still neat though, and fun to mod/throw.

The fiskars aren't bad. There are lots of folks who don't like em, but mine has been very useful to me. All that said however, I'd probably just go ahead and save up the few extra dollars for a Wetterlings in whatever size you'd like. It's a more woodworking-oriented tool.
Click to expand...

DING DING DING, this sounds like a winner.

I have about every Cold Steel hawk and they are fun but in a need to chop or split some wood I would rather have a hatchet or axe.
 
The CS hawks don't come with sheathes. You'll need to sharpen, and as long as you're at it, you won't regret convexing it. The black finish they come with is astoundingly hideous, I stripped mine and blued it.

I have a Rifleman's, which I find too heavy to carry (great to leave at camp, though), and two Trailhawks, which I like very much.

They cut/chop quite well, but don't split nearly as well as a hatchet. I agree with what Spooky said above. Having said that, hawks are just plain COOL! And the CS hawks can all be found for under $30. You can't beat that with a stick.

Modding Trailhawks is so popular and fun, they made it a sticky thread in the Axe/Hawk sub-forum. Check it out, tons of great tips and ideas in there. :thumbup:
 
If the only criteria is chopping, the Fiskars is probably a better tool. If you put a longer handle on it,(the 'hawk) it gains a little more utility, though it is still not as efficient as the axe.

IMO, a hawk is sort of a cross between a machete and an axe. It chops, but tends to bind like a machete does. It is light, and uses the length to help give it power, like a machete does. It is longer like the machete, so you have more reach. It doesn't work as well on lighter stuff as the machete though, and doesn't chop as well as the axe. It is a nice tool, just different.

Here are a couple pics.

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and here is a video of the Fiskars in use: http://www.thetopgearpicks.com/fiskars14hatchet.html

Have a good one.
 
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