Fiberglass tomahawk handles

H

hoehndude

Joined
Apr 5, 2017
Messages
1
All of my tomahawks have hickory handles, and some have been customized over the years. When teaching little ones to throw, I end up having to replace handles more often than I want. I was using a friend's sledge the other day when I noticed the fiberglass handle he had attached to it.

Has anyone cut down one of those fiberglass handles and modified it to fit a tomahawk? I wouldn't want to be seen in public with the monstrosity, but can't help think it could prolong the life of the handle when I know abuse is coming its way.

I ran a search on the forum, and found quite a few results mentioning tomahawks, fiberglass and handles but nothing addressing this. Thanks.
 
It makes sense for a throwing hawk. No worry about overstrikes exposing fibers to cause nasty splinters. No issue with uncomfortable impact stresses because it's not in hand on impact. Fiberglas handles seem a good fit for throwing hawks.
 
Rinaldi makes some slip-fit handles in poly-jacketed fiberglass. Just a matter of whether or not they have handles in the right size for the eye you're using.
 
I remember a forum member Vector i think it was who used to rehaft cold steel hawks with a composite material handle. I know they looked pretty nice
 
I gave up teaching my boys to throw tomahawks for now, when they are bigger they will hit the target more reliably. We switched to beater throwing knives for throwing, and my older boy just uses his hawk for chopping. If I was going to rehaft with composite, I would probably get a cold steel training staff, cut it into pieces, and fire up the belt sander. Once it's through the eye, a little heat and pressure would mushroom it out.
 
BitingSarcasm said:
I gave up teaching my boys to throw tomahawks for now, when they are bigger they will hit the target more reliably. We switched to beater throwing knives for throwing, and my older boy just uses his hawk for chopping. If I was going to rehaft with composite, I would probably get a cold steel training staff, cut it into pieces, and fire up the belt sander. Once it's through the eye, a little heat and pressure would mushroom it out.
Click to expand...
I'm going to suggest a whole different tact here. My allowance was 25 cents and my paper route generated $2.50/wk in the mid 1960s. I revelled in rural archery pursuits but the old boy refused to sponsor any of it. Had he supplied me with unlimited arrows (practice arrows were 25 cents and good broad heads were $1) I would have been considerably more frivolous. I remember anxiously going back home to retrieve an axe in order to devote 1/2 day in hurriedly chopping down a mature elm tree just because a prized hunting arrow had deflected off a woodchuck burrow and stuck high enough up that I couldn't reach it (even with a ladder), and I sure enough wasn't going to write it off. Start teaching your boys how to select, whittle, size and customize hafts. It'll culture trades-type skills that are much more valuable than mere implement tossing. A garbage day-scavenged Ash or Maple shovel handle will generate 3-4 new hawk handles and have your kids become that much more conscientious about learning how to throw.
 
300Six said:
I'm going to suggest a whole different tact here. My allowance was 25 cents and my paper route generated $2.50/wk in the mid 1960s. I revelled in rural archery pursuits but the old boy refused to sponsor any of it. Had he supplied me with unlimited arrows (practice arrows were 25 cents and good broad heads were $1) I would have been considerably more frivolous. I remember anxiously going back home to retrieve an axe in order to devote 1/2 day in hurriedly chopping down a mature elm tree just because a prized hunting arrow had deflected off a woodchuck burrow and stuck high enough up that I couldn't reach it (even with a ladder), and I sure enough wasn't going to write it off. Start teaching your boys how to select, whittle, size and customize hafts. It'll culture trades-type skills that are much more valuable than mere implement tossing. A garbage day-scavenged Ash or Maple shovel handle will generate 3-4 new hawk handles and have your kids become that much more conscientious about learning how to throw.
Click to expand...
I scavenge all the wood I can, but nobody around here seems to throw away tool handles. I suspect they use gardeners and don't actually do the work themselves.....Right now my 8 year old is a little small for throwing hawks, and the 5 year old isn't careful enough yet but they are both growing so fast. The older boy is learning how to use my tools to shape wood, and I have some ash set aside so he can make a small bow stave. They both like shooting arrows, so hey, I can work with that.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top