'Hawk suggestions???

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Plainsman

Joined
Apr 5, 1999
Messages
1,227
Hello!

I've always been fascinated by 'Hawks and had a CS Frontier Hawk, but didn't like the design. I'm interested in getting another 'Hawk for outdoor functional usage! I'd be interested in hearing some suggestions at a reasonable price. By reasonable I would say keep it under $60...Are there some items that would fit in this category that would be worthwhile?

Thanks!
 
The CS Norse Hawk was reccommended to me by Magnussen here on the forums.. I've had it for several months ad it has proven to be quite a useful tool.. ALso if you go to the general forums there is an axe and hawk subforum that might be of use.
 
I'd go for one of these if I was looking for a hawk:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=638703

Custom forged, inexpensive, handsome.

The CS hawks are pretty inexpensive too, I'd go for the norse hawk like Riley said (versus the trail hawk) just because the broader edge is a lot wiser when using it on wood.

I prefer an axe, but if the above options are good if you're aiming for a hawk.
 
A while ago someone posted a link to this page with all sorts of hand forged hawks and double bits, some with S5 steel bits. Anyone know what I'm talking about? I forgot to book mark it :/
 
I have all the Cold steel hawks and a Fort Turner RR on the way.They're a great deal of fun to have and use in the bush.You won't fell a sequoia with one but for general camp chopping they'll do.
 
Thanks guys!

I'm leaning towards the CS Trail Hawk as it fills the niche I'm looking for best with the features I'm looking for such as a flat top, not upswept, a hammer poll, lightweight and rather inexpensive! :)

Thanks!
 
Plainsman said:
Thanks guys!

I'm leaning towards the CS Trail Hawk as it fills the niche I'm looking for best with the features I'm looking for such as a flat top, not upswept, a hammer poll, lightweight and rather inexpensive! :)

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Check out the Riflemans's Hawk, it's edge is wider then the Trail hawk but it still has the hammer pole. BTW I have a Trail hawk and like the feel of it but I think the wider edge on the Rifleman's hawk is better.

Also check out the Hawks made by Smith's on Bladeforums. They make some good stuff. I have one of the Mr. Johnson's that I really like and plan to get some from others soon.

Heber
 
SpookyPistolero said:
I'd go for one of these if I was looking for a hawk:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=638703

Custom forged, inexpensive, handsome.

The CS hawks are pretty inexpensive too, I'd go for the norse hawk like Riley said (versus the trail hawk) just because the broader edge is a lot wiser when using it on wood.

I prefer an axe, but if the above options are good if you're aiming for a hawk.
Click to expand...

I 2nd this, My KR Johnson hawk is great. Doing some mods to it now to purty it to my liking.
 
I have 2 of KRJ's hawks, one Large American, and a Hammer poll Camp hawk with the 1095 bit. I love them both, but they do come with quite thin handles compared to CS hawks. If you have larger hands they need to be wrapped, Good Ole hockey tape serves well or some paracord makes them perfect. They are hard to beat for the price. I have the Riflemans and norse CS hawks also, both are very nice - just depends on your purpose.

I am not a large fan of the trail hawk, handled one a few times and felt like a toy in my hands. .
 
KRJs are badass. I owned one, and it was a great tool. The head had a much better wedge to it then the CS hawks...
 
There is a member on here called Coal Creek Forge and he has one in his avatar that he made that is freaking awesome. The hammer poll is very minimum (but there is a hammer poll) and it is flat on the top but it's also bearded and just plain wicked looking.

On another note, I have the rifleman's hawk from CS and I have not been disapointed. I got it over the trail hawk because it's a little heavier and has a little longer cutting edge. All in all it's a good tool.

David
 
Plainsman said:
Thanks guys!

I'm leaning towards the CS Trail Hawk as it fills the niche I'm looking for best with the features I'm looking for such as a flat top, not upswept, a hammer poll, lightweight and rather inexpensive! :)

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I own the Trail Hawk. If I had it to do over again I'd have gotten the Rifleman's Hawk.
That's not to say I don't like the TH, I do, it's nifty as all get out. But for my neck of the wudz I'd rather have the RH.

Just my .02
 
As to the CS offerings, I have both a Rifleman's and a Trailhawk. They both required a fair amount of work to put a real edge on them; both have served me well. Neither splits wood worth a damn, but they chop very well. Both are good at pounding tent-pegs and whatnot. I once lent my RM to a friend to root-out a stump in his yard; he beat the living snot out of it and the edge was dulled pretty badly from soil/rocks etc, but it only took me a couple minutes on the belt-grinder to bring it right back into shape. It did not break or suffer bad chips.

The main thing to consider when choosing between the two is weight. The TH seems to weigh next-to-nothing, the RM is a real pig. I like my RM very much when it stays next to the woodpile when car-camping; I wouldn't want to carry it very far. I think for that kind of weight, you might be better off with a good hatchet or small axe, which would be a bit more versatile. On the other hand, the TH chops nearly as well and is much handier.

Buy one of each, they're cheap! Beware the political ramifications, though.
 
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James_Terrio said:
As to the CS offerings, I have both a Rifleman's and a Trailhawk. They both required a fair amount of work to put a real edge on them; both have served me well. Neither splits wood worth a damn, but they chop very well. Both are good at pounding tent-pegs and whatnot. I once lent my RM to a friend to root-out a stump in his yard; he beat the living snot out of it and the edge was dulled pretty badly from soil/rocks etc, but it only took me a couple minutes on the belt-grinder to bring it right back into shape. It did not break or suffer bad chips.

The main thing to consider when choosing between the two is weight. The TH seems to weigh next-to-nothing, the RM is a real pig. I like my RM very much when it stays next to the woodpile when car-camping; I wouldn't want to carry it very far. I think for that kind of weight, you might be better off with a good hatchet or small axe, which would be a bit more versatile. On the other hand, the TH chops nearly as well and is much handier.

Buy one of each, they're cheap! Beware the political ramifications, though.
Click to expand...

Thats the exact same as I feel about the two.

I used the head off the Riflemans hawk for yard work and the head really took a pounding, putting sod down, to removing small saplings, think of what a yard would look like in the woods with no care for a year and a half?

Either way, they are both fine tools considering the price.
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I've been drooling over this Ram for a while from the Graham Bros. If I ever come across enough money I'll buy one and put it to good use.

http://www.grahamknives.com/tomahawk.htm

I just won a hawk in a giveaway thread here so once I get it I plan on putting her to use and seeing how functional a hawk is compared to a small hatchet. I really interested to see.

Something tells me a hawk is just going to be just plain fun to use!
 
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