Cold Steel began applying an "American Tomahawk Company" label on ALL of their Tomahawks in April of 2002, as a direct result of a dispute that emerged between CS and ATC about the ownership of the name, "American Tomahawk Company".
Apparently, Cold Steel applied for the trademark, "American Tomahawk Company" in 1993, and it was issued on the supplemental register. They never used it until we were in business for over a year. We were totally unaware that Cold Steel had a registered mark, "American Tomahawk Company".
Mr. Thompson and I have been in communication about this subject for over a year, and a tenative agreement has been reached. The labels in question nonetheless, will probably be on their Tomahawks through the end of the year.
They began manufacturing a Vietnam Tomahawk replica in 1993, using imported drop forgings and American hickory handles. Reportedly, the dies used to make these forgings were created by using an original Vietnam Tomahawk head, loaned to Cold Steel by Steve Dick of Tactical Knives. While I do not dispute the truthfulness of this report, the fact is that the end result, the Tomahawk itself, while cosmetically VERY similar to the original Vietnam Tomahawk, does NOT meet Peter's specifications.
The piece is too thick, too heavy, and does not have his "hourglass" eye design, which we improved to a step-lock design.
Cold Steel will continue to make their Vietnam Tomahawk version, with ATC's permission, as it was indeed in the market since 93'. However, as some of the remarks have already stated, the customer indeed "gets what he pays for"...
While we seldom manufacture this model with a hickory handle any more, the Vietnam Tactical Tomahawk, with its synthetic handle, is a completely improved 21st century piece while keeping to Mr. LaGana's original specifications in dimension and weight...we also sharpen ALL FIVE edges of the Vietnam Tactical, which is something that was never done before. In fact, "Pete" would often yell at me, "that thing is TOO DAMN SHARP!!".
And he meant it...thank goodness he lived 400 miles from the office!
Hope this helps...
Just needed a minor correction.
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