D2 Plataxe from Platatac,Downunder

Please be clear and speak your mind Jontan. What is my agenda? Good to know there is someone out there that knows me better than myself.

I don't own a RMJ or any other competitors tacti-hawk. I don't have a dog in the fight, or agenda, other than speaking truths about the material used to fabricate this tool. I'm a process and manufacturing engineer, I get paid to design and improve things based on process and material science. I guess that's my agenda.

What is your agenda? Do you work for the manufacturer? Customer or fanboy? You didn't answer.

BTW, did you look up the material data sheets? Contact an apps engineer or metallurgist and get their input? Researched any books on tool steel selection and heat treatment for differing applications? There are great resources available.

Or do you not want to hear the truth?
 
Pot calling kettle black, as soon as I read your first post I assumed you worked for platatac.

As for D2, I remember researching the Kershaw Outcast and D2 was considered bad mojo for choppers, though I never heard of one breaking that I recall.
Design looks totally ripped off from Winkler too.
 
Lapp_Dance said:
do you work for Platatac or Harcore Hardware?
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NO I do not! I hope this point in now clear for you Lapdancer.

Not really sure why you boyz are so keen to can an Aussie product before you've even had a chance to authenticate any of your comments. All the guff I've read so far from the keyboard jokeys appears to be based entirely on speculation on material specs and NOT actual exposure to the tool and HT in question - that's kind of an ass about way to evaluate anything IMO.

Oh well after the review on Sniperhide I'm sold - postive feedback from someone that layed down the coin = all good! Once I've got one I'll try to post something for your guys, maybe then we can continue the back and forth:-).... Is there anything you guys would like to see in particular?

Cheers.

Jontan888
(It's an asian thing)
 
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I guess you told me! This agenda driven, Aussie axe xenophobing, keyboard jockeying, data sheet reaiding 'boy' is done now. Your superior knowledge of materials and marketing render me speachless.

I'm sure your new axe will perform just fine and satisfy your needs. Enjoy.
 
Jontan888 said:
NO Once I've got one I'll try to post something for your guys, maybe then we can continue the back and forth:-).... Is there anything you guys would like to see in particular?
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Just give us an honest review and we will take from there Thanks!
 
I have to say of all the zooty tactical tomahawk designs, this one looks most attractive to me so far. I agree, in S7 or 5160 this axe would really shine.
 
A $15 dollar ball-peen hammer will smash cinder blocks, without deformation. The guys at my kids' Kajukenbo school smash cinder blocks (with their hands).

Not saying this tool isn't good OR isn't tough, just this was a meaningless test.

BTW, if the test was by an independent reviewer why is the video made up into an advertisement? And if its made of D3 steel why does the video and one of the sales sites say it is D2? Not that there is much difference between the two.
 
That hawk is beautiful. The next best thing to a winkler perhaps, but $350 is still too expensive :( I want something that shape that's less than $200.
 
I sense a lot of free advertisement in this thread, especially from someone who doesn't have any first hand experience.
 
Lapp_Dance said:
I sense a lot of free advertisement in this thread, especially from someone who doesn't have any first hand experience.
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I agree. However, I think it's funny because your avatar kind of looks like the figure on the Platatac logo! LOL

I don't know if I can get behind a percussion tool being made of D2 or D3. And is the primary grind hollow? If it was made of 5160 or S7, like mentioned above, I would buy one (but not if that primary grind is hollow).
 
Moogoogaidan, you're now one of the 'agenda' boyz. Gosh durn aussie axe hater is what you are. Just sayin'.
 
moogoogaidan said:
I agree. However, I think it's funny because your avatar kind of looks like the figure on the Platatac logo! LOL

I don't know if I can get behind a percussion tool being made of D2 or D3. And is the primary grind hollow? If it was made of 5160 or S7, like mentioned above, I would buy one (but not if that primary grind is hollow).
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It's a Bantha skull, as represented on Boba Fett's armor from Star Wars. I'm not a Hardcore Hardware fanboy, and am doing my best to patiently await the arrival of my own Winkler hawk.
 
Lapp_Dance said:
It's a Bantha skull, as represented on Boba Fett's armor from Star Wars. I'm not a Hardcore Hardware fanboy, and am doing my best to patiently await the arrival of my own Winkler hawk.
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Winkler, eh? Very nice! Whenever I get the idea to drop that kind of money on a tomahawk, I remind myself that a glock and a khukuri is much more effective than a single hawk ... Not to mention cheaper, too!
 
moogoogaidan said:
I think it's funny because your avatar kind of looks like the figure on the Platatac logo! LOL
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LMAO!

Moving on..........

Picked an LFT/Plataxe up from the store on Friday. Regarding the point above, the primary cutting edge does have a very subtle hollow grind. When I say subtle, had it not been for the above, I might not have even noticed it. It's practically a V grind so I don't know why they bothered as its too shallow to be a true hollow grind or anything like it.

I thought I'd give some initial feedback as I haven't had a chance to have a crack with it yet, I also want to get my hands on a steel drum to test chopping with the head and penetrating with the spike. At this stage I'll just list my pros and cons together with some general observations on inspection of the tool and go from there later on.

Cons:
- The tool is heavy! On or around 850ish+ grams, heavier than I expected to be honest. This might be an issue for guys wanting to carry all day.
- The D2 stock is also very thick and based on the weight and thickness from head to handle its full tang and I suspect solid the whole way through. Only way to be sure is to undo the screws. The dudes at the store said they were fastened with 222 into stainless sleeves, so I'm not going there yet.
- The sheath is a bit OTT IMO, I don't think the handle needs to be fully unclosed. Getting the hawk in and out isn't a simple affair as the cordura/kydex full fining makes the sheath stiff. I'm hoping with use this will loosen. I think this tool could benefit from a quick release scabbard or similar. The supplied sheath has molle on the front and fastens to gear on the back using molle. I'm not into the Velcro/press stud combo to open and close, I don't plan on jumping out of a plane with it attached to my pack so it's overkill for me.
- Balance point is about 1/3 of the way down the handle. This from my perspective is neither a pro or con, I have no intention of trying to throw the hawk or have experience with this so it's more of an observation than anything else.

Pros:
- Its clear from the out set that this tool is made using CNC machines. The facets along the top of the head, machining of the spike and cutting head are all perfectly symmetrical. The perimeter of the tool is well finished and all the sharp corners have been removed where you would expect to handle it.
- The G10 is a real standout for me, it has an undulating contour that runs along the hande allowing for 3 different hand holds with a single hand or very comfortable duel hand operation high or low on the grip. This ergonomic profile is a feature I haven't seen in anything else, I rate this!
- The heal of the handle is also pretty impressive - clearly over built for hammering with a big lanyard hole and serrations on the bottom, I guess these are for grip if you were supporting yourself with it. Another feature is the shape of the handle at its base, its flared out so your hand cannot slip off the end. This is a real bonus if your hands are wet or there's oil or blood. Will have to test this feature to be sure but initially it looks practical.
- The cutting head looks more than capable of any typical chopping/cutting you would expect from this type of hawk, the beard has been faceted to make withdrawal out of a drum or car door easier but it has not been sharpened. The point at the end of the bottom of the beard is crazy sharp (this may be a con for some but I like it).
- The spike isn't needle point sharp, in fact it has been blunted off. It also has these tantoesk facets that I guess are designed for strength and ease of penetration - again testing will be needed here.
- The Teflon coating is both uniform and has a totally matt finish. The head has logos on both sides for HH and a Plat scull logo. The head also bares the steel type D2, so I guess that clears up the confusion on D3.
- Cool factor: A+++. The pics we've seen so far don't do this thing justice at all! Enough said here as I don't want to be accused of a fanboy. But then again I'm not a groupie for some of the other makers already mentioned;-)...

I asked the retail guys about warranty, they said no problem and referred me to the HH site. Sounds pretty fair to me. Basically full cover provided that I'm not a dickhead;-)!

So far I'm happy! The price was an issue but I'm getting over it. Field testing next to be sure.

On grinds, I found this in a thread from sometime ago, that may be of interest to some: "It is critical to note though that how the grind is implemented makes more of a difference than its type. Strider uses hollow grinds and they are very thick and are stronger than many flat ground blades. Look at the cross section more so than the curvature". Cliff Stamp....

For now Happy New Year.

Jontan888
(It's an asian thing)
 
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Hey Jontan, thanks for the very well thought out review! It sounds like a winner. As long as the hollow grind isn't dramatic, I don't think it should be an issue. That was one big thing that caused me to unload my Mineral Mountain Paramedics Ax -- the hollow grind created a very thin cross section. Even though the 5160 might be up to the tough tasks, I was worried about the hollow grind binding when chopping.

Also, it's great to hear about the comfortable handle. With such a heavy tool, swinging an uncomfortable handle might be dangerous. There were times when the wide, flat, uncontoured handle of my Mineral Mountain ax felt like it was going to fly out of my hand because of my discomfort and hand fatigue holding it.
 
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