- Joined
- Jun 11, 2008
- Messages
- 1,409
I got an Eco-Hawk on a whim. This isn't usually the style of thing I go for but it looked interesting and was designed to be modded by the end user to whatever edge geometry was best suited to their needs. I really wish I had a pic of the Eco Kit before I started working on the hawk head. The kit included a sheath, whistle,, lansky sharpener, fire striker, saw, and cordage. I think the items in the kit were selected so that you would be able to haft the Eco in the field.
First impressions- The sheath is well made, with over a dozen strong elastic loops on the inside and out as well as two straps on the back, properly spaced for Molle/Pals webbing. The fire striker seems pretty durable with it's aluminum housing but the three rods (two magnesium and one ferro) are not attached together and there is a bit of wiggle between them. The saw is VERY nice for its size. It cuts fast and is very sharp for having such small teeth. The whistle is the normal "free" whistle that you get with most large TOPS knives. The cordage looks like 550 paracord but it is not. It does not have inner nylon strands but has a kern of stiff yarn like material. I tested the breaking strength and it was less than 250lbs. Now, I actually like this cordage better for the kit. It may not be as versatile as true paracord but it has a little more stretch and has a softer feel which makes it a very good cordage for hafting and knot tying.
Here is the kit, less the whistle, after I modded the hawk head
I took the very wide, 60deg inclusive, grind on the straight edge on the back and filed it to a scandi grind that followed the original primary bevel. After final sharpening it shaves easily and will make a nice knife edge for shaping the haft I'm about to make.
I thinned and convexed the primary edge.
I cut a branch with the supplied saw, and then cut a split to haft the head.
I finished shaping the handle with the Eco's straight blade and tied on the head with the supplied cordage.
Lets see how it throws
Sticks easily and stays tightly hafted even with the few wraps I put on it.
After a nice throwing session.
Final thoughts- I think the Eco is a great little hawk head. The heat treat was great and both the primary edge and cutting edge held up to throwing and carving and were still able to shave hair. I didn't get a picture but once it is hafted the straight edge works well as a draw knife. I think this is gonna be a fun little tool to keep in my kit.
First impressions- The sheath is well made, with over a dozen strong elastic loops on the inside and out as well as two straps on the back, properly spaced for Molle/Pals webbing. The fire striker seems pretty durable with it's aluminum housing but the three rods (two magnesium and one ferro) are not attached together and there is a bit of wiggle between them. The saw is VERY nice for its size. It cuts fast and is very sharp for having such small teeth. The whistle is the normal "free" whistle that you get with most large TOPS knives. The cordage looks like 550 paracord but it is not. It does not have inner nylon strands but has a kern of stiff yarn like material. I tested the breaking strength and it was less than 250lbs. Now, I actually like this cordage better for the kit. It may not be as versatile as true paracord but it has a little more stretch and has a softer feel which makes it a very good cordage for hafting and knot tying.
Here is the kit, less the whistle, after I modded the hawk head
I took the very wide, 60deg inclusive, grind on the straight edge on the back and filed it to a scandi grind that followed the original primary bevel. After final sharpening it shaves easily and will make a nice knife edge for shaping the haft I'm about to make.
I thinned and convexed the primary edge.
I cut a branch with the supplied saw, and then cut a split to haft the head.
I finished shaping the handle with the Eco's straight blade and tied on the head with the supplied cordage.
Lets see how it throws
Sticks easily and stays tightly hafted even with the few wraps I put on it.
After a nice throwing session.
Final thoughts- I think the Eco is a great little hawk head. The heat treat was great and both the primary edge and cutting edge held up to throwing and carving and were still able to shave hair. I didn't get a picture but once it is hafted the straight edge works well as a draw knife. I think this is gonna be a fun little tool to keep in my kit.
