First Tomahawk?

Z

Ztmma

Joined
Oct 9, 2012
Messages
187
I am looking to get my first tomahawk. I think I want to go with a RMJ hawk. My max budget is $500.
I am not sure if that is the best way to go or not.
Looking for something super tough.
 
Super tough in what way? What's the intended use for your tomahawk? What's the primary cutting medium going to be?
 
why don't you get something cheaper and see if a tomahawk is what you want. What do you want it for?
 
Demolition, taking out on the farm for any random task that may present itself, and of course let us not forget zombie defense. Who knows when those pesky hordes will show up at your door?
Fun but still useful! :)
 
Take a look at the hawken shop They make a tough one Mine is over 30 years old and still holding up :-) jake
 
Ztmma said:
Demolition, taking out on the farm for any random task that may present itself, and of course let us not forget zombie defense. Who knows when those pesky hordes will show up at your door?
Fun but still useful! :)
Click to expand...

The CRK tomahawks are good. The Ontario SP16 isn't technically a tomahawk, but it's close. The Estwing tomahawk is also a good option. All of them below $500 and a good starting point to figure out what you're after.
 
Go with a StormCrow (forum member) Wrecker Hawk, or google Helm Forge, it is StormCrows website. He makes some crazy strong bad assert Hawks. I got a 1st production one and I have chopped wood, metal, cinder blocks, most recently I used it to clear a large section of ice from my driveway. I love RMJ hawks too, but StormCrows are just as nice and less than half the price. He is a good guy to buy from. Plus he makes some bad ass knives and swords too.
 
I own 2 RMJ Hawks and love them both. If you decide to go that route I'd suggest either the standard Shrike or the slightly smaller S13 Shrike.
If your buying it for its bad ass looks, because it's almost unbreakable, and you don't mind spending the money you really can't go wrong. They do everything I ask of them flawlessly, great jack of all trades hawks.

On the other hand.
If you don't have any other hawks and don't need almost indestructible you may want to look into a nice traditional looking model like the ones made by Coal Creek Forge or 2Hawks, etc, etc.
They throw well for fun, handles are easily replaced, can be stored easily and compactly without the handle attached, give you the option of a useful hammer poll, and you can get 2 or 3 for the price of 1 RMJ.
THEYRE STILL CRAZY TOUGH.
They usually do better on wood due to their edge geometry, and still perform ok at demolition- just with more risk of cracking a handle. I imagine they'd also work just fine during a Zombie Apocalypse. They're probably a better farm implement and woods tool than an RMJ but nothing compares to the RMJ's in my mind- they're awesome hawks.

FYI.
CRKT is releasing two traditional style wooden handled hawks that were designed by Ryan Johnson of RMJ, you could probably get the best of both worlds in one of them and save a ton of cash.

Good luck deciding and know this, whatever you buy, it'll be the first of many.
 
Ztmma said:
I am looking to get my first tomahawk. I think I want to go with a RMJ hawk. My max budget is $500.
I am not sure if that is the best way to go or not.
Looking for something super tough.
Click to expand...
Not as tough but tastier and cheaper.

Just saw it in Costco and then your thread. Sorry just had to.:D
 
Went ahead and got an RMJ, I kind of want one of the more classic wooden ones too. Where would you recommend looking at...2hawks?
Im going to have to get in touch with Helms forge about a smaller Hawk like that wrecker rig he did! Maybe in a month or two.
 
Yeah I have the 18 in wrecker and love it. Eventually I will get another to store in my vehicle. I used to have a 2 hawks long hunter. It was a nice hawk but the handle was a little small. I believe Devin Price is still running it. Good guy. There are a lot of fans here of hb forge. I have heard good things about them. Either way good luck to ya.
 
You really can't go wrong with the RMJ, congrats on your purchase.
Which one did you choose ?
Be sure to update us with what you think of it when that bad boy arrives, and share some pics if you have the time.
 
It was a toss up between the s13 and the full sized shrike. Went with the full sized shrike mainly because they had them in stock...If I like it enough I might get the s13 as well.
The S13, or maybe the Wrecker hawk, look like a useful tool to keep in the truck.
I will definitely post up some pictures!
 
I haven't seen an S13 in real life yet, I'd love to get my hands on one to compare it to my full sized Shrike. Full size is kind of a funny thing to say about it though, I have hawks that are much longer and a Jenny Wren that is 4 inches shorter; to me the Shrike feels just right, a lot like a 16 inch framing hammer that's meant to destroy instead of create- I love it.
Maybe the S13 would feel like a finish hammer since it's a comparable length, I could fall in love with that too. Since I don't have any problem taking the Shrike along on an excursion I don't have much need for a smaller version of it though and when I do want a smaller hawk I find the compact Jenny Wren to be ideal with plenty if power left in its swing.

I'm rambling, sorry.
I hope that you enjoy your Shrike as much as I do mine, we'll be waiting for pics :)
 
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