Hawk finishing

C

Colonel

Joined
Oct 10, 2005
Messages
11
Is there a good way to accelerate the corrosion on brass upholstry tacks for use on the handle of my hawk? The new ones just look to "new". I've placed a few of them on a board and used steel wool to remove any laquer that may be on it, but I'd like to find something to apply to it to give it that dull used look.

Also, any suggestions for a similar treatment of the steel head? I've got all the paint stripped off. I thought about blueing or browning, but I think I'd just like to let it build up a light coat of rust, then use oil and steel wool to remove it leaving just that dark finish.

(BTW, this is being done on a CS Frontier)

Thanks!
 
Here's some refinished CS hawks I did. The Frontier Hawks are blued and the Trail Hawk has a case hardened look to it. I also used some brass tacks and because I beat these up, they will start to look used from just that...use.

There are a couple of other threads that talk about refinishing if you browse a bit.


http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...es/9_28012.jpg
 
I got a 404 file not found error on that link, hatchetjack. It looks like it's trying to open it with "b1...es" as the actual link.

How did you get the case hardened look that you described? Is it actually case hardened - or sort of a pseudo-case hardening?

I've got some rawhide on order and will do some wrapping just below the head. I've thought about doing some brazing to fill in the screw hole since I understand it's not really worth trying to use the screw to hold it in place (although I'm not really planning on throwing it).

I'm also thinking about drilling through the head and handle and then using a piece of brass rod as a pin. I'd make the pin a bit longer than the width and then peen the ends down.

Has anyone tried using a Dremel engraving tool to engrave a name or other text on the head of a hawk? I've thought about printing out what I want onto some large label stock, stick it in place on the head, then just follow the lines. Remove and clean up what's left of the label when finished. Seems like a good idea anyway - just wondering if anyone else has tried that?
 
I posted some photos on a thread titled CS Hawk Mods. Scroll down a bit and you will find it. The photos there open.

The case hardened look was not intentional. The Trail Hawk must have a higher stainless content so the bluing did not penetrate as it did in my Frontier Hawks. Looks good anyway.

There is another project there where the head was browned. The poster also describes his process and also the leateher sleeve wrap.

Brazing the scew hole is a good idea. It doesn't do anything but gouge your handle.

I also filed the inside of the head for a better fit and it greatly reduced the head slippage. You could pin as some do but you may break the handle on a bad throw should you decide to.

Good luck. It's a great way to take a small investment and turn it into something unique. Let me know if the photos open and what you think of my results.

Hatchetjack
 
Thanks, hatchetjack! The photos you had posted were what got me fired up to do this in the first place, so I've spent many minutes looking at those pics and trying to decide how mine would look. Those are great!

I'll post a picture or two of mine when it's finished (and maybe one before the leather wrap). I'm going to put two brass upholstry tacks about 1/2" from the end - one on each side. The idea there is to give me a way to tell that I'm almost at the end of the handle just by feel. Thought about adding something to the front edge also. That would give me a by-feel reference to tell me that I have it pointed in the right direction.

I'm thinking of engraving my name on the blade if I can find a style that is authentic to the mid to late 1700's. One of my ancestors was a Colonel (non-military title), as am I, so the name would both refer to someone from that era (he lived from 1771 - 1852) and to me. I like the thought of that. He was known to the local indians as "Big Pipe", so maybe I'll figure out some way to work that in as well.

As you said, a small investment can turn into something unique. I'm looking at this as the first one. I'll probably get another one and see if I can improve on things next go around.

Thanks for the tips!
 
You can do a search on the hawk used in "The Patriot". I think you can see the engraving on it and get an idea.

Looking forward to seeing your work!

I'm ordering a few more Trail hawks and am going to experiment with creating a tiger maple finish. These are too much fun! Someone mentioned soaking a cord in alcohol, wrapping then burning. I like the idea.
 
hatchetjack said:
...Someone mentioned soaking a cord in alcohol, wrapping then burning. I like the idea.
Click to expand...
I seem to recall reading that originally they used pitch in a string. That would seem to me that it would result in a darker line just because of the pitch. I tried it with lighter fluid, but I didn't care for the results - I got a better line by very careful use of a propane torch. It is really easy to burn it too much though.
 
OK, here's a photo of my first attempt at dressing up a tomahawk. This is the Cold Steel Frontier.

• All paint removed from head using wire wheel

• Bottom end of handle reshaped using belt sander (use caution - it takes a lot off very quickly if you're not careful)

• Sanded original clear coat off of handle

• Used propane torch at lowest possible flame to very lightly burn rings.

• Sanded after burning

• Applied two coats of Minwax water-based stain, American Walnut

• Applied two coats of Formby's low-gloss Tung Oil

• Removed set screw and reassembled

I will either add two brass upholstry tacks near the bottom of the handle, or add some rawhide (probably the brass tacks).

tomahawk.jpg
 
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