First day with first tomahawk

C

cadjak

Joined
Mar 25, 2005
Messages
210
Like most of my curiosity, buying my first tomahawk starts me off with more questions, than answers. I don't know what I was expecting, but I opened the package and there was the head, and the handle, but not assembled together. First question, is the head simply held on by forcing it forward on the handle (just learned here, it's called the haft. Getting smarter already)? No kind of shims or anything?

Second question, I was hoping to start using it for general camp chores, not throwing. The head is dull as it was after it was initially forged. Is there some reason that they don't have a sharp edge? I was going to convex the edge, but figured I should ask before I dive into this project.

The tomahawk is a Great River Forge, large American.

Thanks for any advice you can give me.
 
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All the hawks I got from Steve at Coal creek forge were hafted and sharp but some send them unhafted.
Yes, you just drive the head onto the haft but it's best to make sure the head fits well to the haft before you drive it on. Also, If you freeze the haft for a while in the freezer (or outside if you live in frozen areas like Canada ))) then heat the head in the oven at 150ish F for 15 minutes or so then bash it on. Also in winter I store my hawks in a bath oil, head and haft end submerged which swells the haft. I sharpen my hawks with a file and finish on a loose belt grinder with worn out belt, but thats just me.

Best regards

Robin

Throw that thing ;-))
 
I know some people like to file smooth the inside of the eye for a tighter fit.

Its a hawk. It was meant to fly. Throw it.
 
thompsonblades said:
I know some people like to file smooth the inside of the eye for a tighter fit.

Its a hawk. It was meant to fly. Throw it.
Click to expand...

That seems counter intuitive. I'd figure that a bit of tooth inside the eye would add some grip.

To put an edge on, do you think I should start out with a 150 belt on my 1x42 and then work from there by hand? I have a good selection of belts, including leather.

Does a throwing hawk need less of a sharp edge than one that is doing camp chores?
 
cadjak said:
That seems counter intuitive. I'd figure that a bit of tooth inside the eye would add some grip.

To put an edge on, do you think I should start out with a 150 belt on my 1x42 and then work from there by hand? I have a good selection of belts, including leather.

Does a throwing hawk need less of a sharp edge than one that is doing camp chores?
Click to expand...

The "tooth" actually chews the h*** out of the haft.

Robin
 
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