Hawk or Bowie

JParanee

JParanee

Joined
Dec 23, 2006
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To me the ultimate fighting knife is the bowie but I have been playing around with my hawks lately and for fun I thought I would pose a question to you guys. If ya had to pick one to fight with which would it be Bowie or hawk. No guns or swords just big knife or hawk. This is just for fun but I am hopeing Mr. McLemore chimes in here and some others that have trained with both. I think I would take a proper fighting bowie over the hawk. But I could be swayed with some good opinions. My logic is that even though a hawk has devastating impact power unless a head shot is scored it is not as quick and manageable as a proper Bowie. You have to broadcast your swing more and there are just so many more cuts a bowie can make I do not think a hawk would do as well in the same skilled hands. Sure a hawk to the forehead would end things but a thrust of a bowie is alot quicker and alot less preceved motion for your opponent. I think a hawk in equal hands would lose. In my mind swinging a hawk really broadcats your movements. I am not by any means a martial artist but I spent many years studying Kendo and even competed so I understand distance and timeing and my vote goes to the bowie.
Which One
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I love'em both Joe, but the bowie gets my vote.I feel I could personally inflict more damage with a bowie if push came to shove.
 
NON-hostile reply:
This thread idea has repeated more often than left-over chili... do a search for a plethora of answers to the question. At 1300 posts, how often have you seen this revived?

PS: Your in a Axe/hatchet/tomahawk forum.
 
Well, I've seen it relived a lot here and in other places, but it probably does not have any longer run that the one titled 'My Kubotan'. God, I never thought that would end. In this case it's a solicitation for an opinion and preference so I'll chime in.
In today's world and at my stage in life, I'm just not out in situations where I would be packing either Bowie or Tomahawk. Laws being what they are. I approach these as historic weapons and as you say....just for fun, fitness and learning about how they were used. My priority for carry is either my Columbia River folder or Spiderco Temperance depending on the State laws. Kelly Wordan's travel wrenches are also in some coat pockets. Now to the scenario as to which old Mac prefers Bowie or Tomahawk. I guess it has to be those big, heavy wide bladed bowies with narrow clipped points. Cold Steel's Natchez Bowie really has been a pleasure to work with. That's just me. Actually, none of my 'Tomahawks' or really 'Tomahawks'. Historically they are what the historical experts refer too as a Rifleman or Belt axe. They are as much tool as they are weapon and when I'm out in the bush they will probably get the most work. Those large Falcata-like knives are also really interesting. For me it's the study and training with them that makes it for me. I can't help it I'm addicted to both tomahawk and bowie. I enjoy working with them together. That's about it.

All My Best
Dwight
 
I would choose my VTAC... but it would get shifted from right to left depending on what the other guy was doing... and I would be using my other hand and my feet, too...

I might throw it, and be right on it's heels rushing the guy, too...

I like to be unpredictable... learned that in Tae Kwon Do while sparring with the 8th Degree Black Belted Instructor I had...
 
i like to play with both too as i like the whole american culture aspect of it and it gives me another excuse to play with my toys but i would choose my bowies first. i have been carrying my 10 1/2" bladed bowie here in the winter months trying it out feeling like old Jim himself. i doubt you could do that as comfortably with a hawk:D

i do think a hawk makes a better tool than a bowie though. i always went camping with a big chopper until i tried a hawk and i was blown away by what could be done with it.
 
Hawk. In the hands of even a mildly skilled fighter it is far superior. Longer reach, harder hitting, blunt and cut trauma. I can slice, for all intents and purposes, just as well with any of my hawks as I can with any of my bowies. A bowie will not get the centrifugal force that a hawk will. I can punch, pull, slice, hit, trip, hold with my hawk. A bowie is significantly more limited.

Oh, throwing a hawk should be ones last resort for if it not a finishing hit, you just gave the bad guy your weapon. Doh!
 
If anything I would carry a hawk. I consider it multi purpose and I think it can be legally carried but not sure. I have to put up a post in knife laws to see what I come up with.
 
Neither. Because when I bring along Howie (a member of the United States Redneck Special Forces...USRSF) I combine the lethality of both the Hawk AND the Bowie.

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762 Shooter,

I understand about throwing your hawk at the guy, and losing your weapon... that was not my intent, it can be a 'distraction' that might injure, also...

I would not choose a knife because the types of wounds you are likely to inflict on your opponent will kill more slowly than would be inflicted with a hawk... you want to kill/disable QUICKLY!!! That doesn't mean blood loss, that means a good chop to the skull!!!
 
Dwight McLemore said:
Well, I've seen it relived a lot here and in other places, but it probably does not have any longer run that the one titled 'My Kubotan'. God, I never thought that would end.
Click to expand...
What forum was that thread in?

Personally I think either one could be shown to be "better" depending on who was using what.
 
Practical Tactical...... Oh yes, Moding the CS Trail Hawk. On and on and on and on.......Oh well what ever works.

My Best
Dwight
 
Personally, I'd choose a Bowie, just because I'm more familiar with knives.
Also, the reach thing isn't always in the 'hawk's favor. I've seen many a bowie pushing 18". A few 'hawks are longer, and a lot are shorter, so reach kind of depends on which model of each you're talking about.

FWIW, from my reading, most of the people that actually used 'hawks as weapons historically, also had long knives. So I guess the "professionals'" vote would be: "both" :D
 
The main part of the original question was this:
"If ya had to pick one to fight with which would it be Bowie or hawk. No guns or swords just big knife or hawk."

If I was invited to a fight and told: "No guns or swords just big knife or hawk"... I would stay home. If they try to come to my house to 'come and get me'??? They would be sorry... even if it is just my wife who is at home...
 
I would rather have both. The Hawk has the advantage of being a three dimensional weapon with greater reach shock and versatility. The bowie gets used in the closer interval work.
 
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