CS Hawk vs. FT Hawk: Is FT worth the price difference?

As for the hawk that is too hard - just take the handle out and throw it in your kitchen oven at 450 degrees F for a couple of hours. I'll bet that will solve the chipping problems. You would be surprised how many makers use plain old kitchen ovens or toaster ovens for tempering!
RMJ
 
VolundoftheForge said:
Seems my best bet is the Pipe Hawk.
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You cant go wrong with a cold steel hawk for your first one . Rich
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Sorry a little pic happy new phone.
 
LEGION 12 said:
You cant go wrong with a cold steel hawk for your first one . Rich
IMG_20120520_104544.jpg
Sorry a little pic happy new phone.
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How is the vietnam hawk? I love the shape and want one for my car but the ATC one is one of those polymer handles and they're very hard to replace. Is the eye THAT small?
 
Ive used the vn hawk for everything but its more of a weapon than anything else the handles a little short for serious chopping and it mounted to the haft from the top like a hammer and they tend to come loose after awile . It took mine a long time to come loose though theres a thread here somewhere were i screwed the head back on from the top and its nice and secure now. And yes the head is pretty sm
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all compared to most other cold steel hawks but it does come with a nice sheath. Rich
 
LEGION 12 said:
Ive used the vn hawk for everything but its more of a weapon than anything else the handles a little short for serious chopping and it mounted to the haft from the top like a hammer and they tend to come loose after awile . It took mine a long time to come loose though theres a thread here somewhere were i screwed the head back on from the top and its nice and secure now. And yes the head is pretty sm
1334751686.jpg
all compared to most other cold steel hawks but it does come with a nice sheath. Rich
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Thanks. I planned on keeping the vietnam for my fightin' hawk and the pipe hawk for my worker. ;)
 
CS has a big sale going on now on the pipe hawk and a few others. I may pick one up myself although i really like the polled hawk better.
 
I doubt anyone doing business in the states could compete with Cold steel on cost per head / production. Mass produced vs craftsman made- your choice. Maybe if the industry you made your living at was destroyed by overseas slave labor produced items it would make more sense.
The point that the maker felt the product was fine after inspection proves he and you have a different idea of what a hawk should be. If he cared about your business he would have done the fix he promised or returned your money. The fact that he didnt put in a toaster oven for an hour and return it shows some character on his part . Now he has a bunch of prospective buyers hearing about his heads chipping out as too hard- maybe not the best move. jmo
 
Wolf_1989 said:
I have both CS and FT. I very much prefer FT.
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I agree with you Wolf its definitely a better hawk than cold steels i just think hes having a quality control problem and he did fix mine so im happy with it . Maybe he just has to many orders to fill i also know forging is a art and sometimes things beyond your control can happen . Im sure he has made many hawks with no problems this is the first time ive heard of any problems i cant say why he didnt fix Woodsplliters hawk but i can say mine was definitely to hard couldnt get rid of the chips even with a file but when i got mine back the problem was resolved . So i wouldnt say not to order one just check it and if there is a problem let him know right away and he should fix it. Rich
 
If the screw/escutcheon method were as solid as wedging then we'd all have screws and escutcheons on our axes.

Food for thought.
 
Square_peg said:
If the screw/escutcheon method were as solid as wedging then we'd all have screws and escutcheons on our axes.

Food for thought.
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I know its not a permanent solution also know that it probably weakens the haft but i didnt want to replace the handle yet just see it as a temporary fix and so far so good hasnt come loose yet when and if it does il replace it with a new haft and wedges . Its not a hard use hawk for me anymore .
 
LEGION 12 said:
I agree with you Wolf its definitely a better hawk than cold steels i just think hes having a quality control problem and he did fix mine so im happy with it . Maybe he just has to many orders to fill i also know forging is a art and sometimes things beyond your control can happen . Im sure he has made many hawks with no problems this is the first time ive heard of any problems i cant say why he didnt fix Woodsplliters hawk but i can say mine was definitely to hard couldnt get rid of the chips even with a file but when i got mine back the problem was resolved . So i wouldnt say not to order one just check it and if there is a problem let him know right away and he should fix it. Rich
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I've bought three FT's and the quality on them all is superb. The only one I had an issue with was my first: an iroquois hawk. It wasn't poorly made, just a bit small for my preference. I kept it though as it throws well. Dana made me a larger version which borders on being a war axe and it cuts like a guillotine.
 
Wolf_1989 said:
I've bought three FT's and the quality on them all is superb. The only one I had an issue with was my first: an iroquois hawk. It wasn't poorly made, just a bit small for my preference. I kept it though as it throws well. Dana made me a larger version which borders on being a war axe and it cuts like a guillotine.
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I also asked him for a longer edge which he did no problem .
 
I have a CS Riflemans, talk about length of service? 10yrs+ still slinging chips like a poker table and splitting wood like a red-nek divorce...my next will be the trench and spikehawks...
 
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