Great River Forge

B

BillyJoeBobJim

Joined
Jun 14, 2007
Messages
600
I'd like to hear some thoughts on the tomahawks made by Keith Johnson at Great River Forge if any of you have used them. The head weights are listed as 16oz. for large American or French and 12oz. for medium American or French.

Does anybody know the size of the eyes? I'd like to be able to pick up some 30" Cold Steel hafts to modify/shorten for them if such hafts would provide a decent starting point.

http://www.greatriverforge.com/index.php?main_page=index
 
Just got a large American from Keith in the mail last Monday. Very nice hawk, I love the rough forge finish. Nice size head but the eye is for a handle smaller than those used by the Cold Steel hawks. I could only get the head about 3 inches up a cold steel hawk handle. After hot mounting the head and a linseed oil bath I hockey taped the handle to add a bit of width. True Canadian style ;)

I might look into picking up one of his hammer poll hawks next:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=619033

He is a great guy to deal with and makes some damn nice hawks!
 
I placed an order on his website.

What do you think of the edge he put on your Large American?

After looking around some, I can see that his work is respected. It's just that I'd like to hear more from users on this forum such as yourself.

Thanks.
 
was not much of an edge on it, just a simple edge put on post forging it looked like. It was an easy thing to put my own edge on with a file and some touching up.
 
I just ordered one of his French Throwing Hawk's, It should be here In a few Day's this will be my first one from Keith, I'll put up my review when my New Hawk arrive's,
 
I ordered one medium (12 oz.) American and one medium (12 oz.) French. I really like the look/shape. A small hammer poll or spike on the other side and I would have ordered before asking.

I have little doubt that they're worth the $40 each price (plus about $10 shipping).

:D

I wonder if Vector at http://hawks.equinoxcoronado.com/ would make a longer handle for me or what I should start with to make my own out of wood. Maybe Mr. Johnson would have a longer one for me???
 
Last edited:
I got my Great River Forge French Throwing Hawk Today In the Mail and It's a "Beauty !" I got the Large French 1 LB. 5 1/2" from back of the eye to the Cutting edge, Cutting Edge Is 4 1/8" And after about 5 Minute's of work on the Arkansas Stone's It'll Skin a Coon ! It has a Beautiful Brown Patina Finish 18" Straight Grain Hickory Handle and the eye to handle fit Is perfect, Keith make's some Very Nice Hawk's, I'm gonna order a Medium French Real Soon "I like the Shape of these French Hawk's" ! Great Job Keith & Thank's ! I got the last one In this link from the Fixed Blade Section http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=613135

This Isnt a picture of mine, Mine has a Brown Patina Finish, This Is one of Keiths picture's, Just showing the Beauty & Shape of the French Style Throwing TomaHawk

FrenchThrowingHawk.jpg
 
Last edited:
Triquetra said:
How does the size/weight compare to a CS Norse/Frontier hawk?
Click to expand...

Here's a link with the different Cold Steel Hawk's, It's show's the Spec.'s as far as Hawk Head length & Cutting Edge but the weight they give Include's the Handle, http://www.ltspecpro.com/tomahawks.html I've got the Norse Hawk & the Frontier & the Riflemans Hawk "The Riflemans Hawk Is kinda Front/Head Heavy so I'm gonna get some 30" Handle's and put one of them on It,
 
Thanks for the link.

Edit: Specs look a little off though.Shows the Frontier and the Rifleman with the same specs.
 
Got my new French Hawk from Keith Today, And It's another "Beauty" He sure doe's some Nice Work, I got # 5, I think there are still two left out of the Dozen, I someone want's a Very Nice Throwing Hawk "Hand Made In America" These are It !
 
I picked mine up today - one medium American and one medium French from Great River Forge.

I probably will not use them until next week, but I really, really like them.

I picked the mediums because of the light weight. Many hawks are out there with heads of one pound or more. These are the only ones I have seen that are so light (12 oz.) unless one of the other makers here would do a light-weight upon special request.

Receiving these made for a great day.
 
BillyJoeBobJim said:
I picked mine up today - one medium American and one medium French from Great River Forge.

I probably will not use them until next week, but I really, really like them.

I picked the mediums because of the light weight. Many hawks are out there with heads of one pound or more. These are the only ones I have seen that are so light (12 oz.) unless one of the other makers here would do a light-weight upon special request.

Receiving these made for a great day.
Click to expand...


Alright Good Deal ! Your gonna have some Fun with them, Light Weight = Fast Handleing, Enjoy your New Hawk's !
 
I ordered a large French about 2 weeks ago - paid for it on Sunday and had it by Wed. of the same week. Keith is one helluva a good guy to deal with and his hawks are damn nice. I'd highly recommend them!
 
Halfbreedinkc said:
I ordered a large French about 2 weeks ago - paid for it on Sunday and had it by Wed. of the same week. Keith is one helluva a good guy to deal with and his hawks are damn nice. I'd highly recommend them!
Click to expand...

I'll second that ! When I got my first large French Hawk I liked Is so much I had to get another one, Here's a group picture the top one has a perfect strait grain Hickory Handle,

2rzfk37.jpg

xp5855.jpg


I'll be adding one of his large American's Real soon, I'm getting the one on the Left, The one on the right Is still avaiable In the Knifemaker's Fixed Blade section,

s2uw7l.jpg


This one Is also gonna be added to my Collection this Is a Great River Forge Camp Axe/Hawk,

28s2eqd.jpg

25klzz7.jpg
 
Last edited:
I have been able to throw and chop with both of mine for over a week now. I have one medium American and one medium French (12 oz. heads). The only things I would consider changing (just for my personal tastes, not that they have any shortcomings in my use):

- longer hafts ... I'll hafta (have to) do this myself
- a 12 oz. head with a small poll or spike, but in the shape/profile of the American or French
- that I would have two of each style for each member of my family for each day of the week

:) :) :)

I really, really , really like these.
 
Dusty One said:
Have the large French. Great work...Great price...
Click to expand...

The Large French Is a Real Nice Hawk, Here's a better picture of the Large American I got from Great River Forge, Also In the picture Is a Forged Fire Steel that Keith made also,

2hd6rky.jpg

20u4eut.jpg


I had to get some better picture's of the Camp Axe, This Beauty Is a Perfect Balance In my hand, 18" Hickory Handle, 15 OZ. Head, 5 1/2" from Hammer Poll to the Cutting Edge, Cutting Edge Is a Super Sharp 3 3/16",

2vxf57r.jpg

r6ztxz.jpg

qplcv7.jpg
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top