Historical accounts of tomahawk usage ...

mc5aw

mc5aw

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Nov 6, 2011
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I recently finished reading an outstanding book, "Captured by the Indians" by Frederick Drimmer, which details over a dozen first-hand accounts of whites being captured by Indians during the years 1750-1870. There are numerous references to tomahawk usage as weapons throughout the survivors' stories, but in at least two cases, reportage was included about Indian tomahawks being used specifically for woodcraft chores. In one account, the narrator describes his tomahawk as a small axe, weighing only a pound and one half, and expressing doubt that he would be able to fell a massive tree (with a group Indians) measuring nearly 18' around. After two full days of labor, the task was completed.

With so much interest in tomahawks today, as weapons and field tools, the book provided fascinating insights into tomahawk usage directly from the sources.
 
Great book read it last year check out the Fort Dearborn Massacre quite a few hawks mentioned not for woodcraft of course. The site were it happened is only a few miles from were I live.
 
Do folks realize that n. American Natives (at the time of European exploration/contact) had only stone and bone tools? Neither France, Spain or England wanted the savages to have modern weapons (namely matchlocks and flintlocks) and consequently offered them only rudimentary steel tools in order to better their lives. A trade axe, crude as it may have been, for cutting through wood and game, revolutionized living and then warfare. From which evolved the tomahawk. Earlier versions had a stone (for weight) tied on to a wood handle for bludgeoning but steel-bladed versions could quickly kill a man.
And here we are 400 years later trying to emulate the remarkable powers of discovery that primitive folks suddenly discovered when they were given access to exotic and sharp materials.
And then starting in 1850 a "fellow" with a 44 Colt repeating pistol or later on (starting 1873) with a 45 in his hand had no more need for a tomahawk.
 
LEGION 12 said:
Your knowledge is amazing tell us more professor!
Click to expand...

Professor ? (300six) The above is a mish mashed conglomerate of non fact, racially charged language mentality, and sheer mistruth.
 
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That was the point I was trying to make my friend in my sarcastic way a perfect case of post less read more.
 
In my time here, I've already had a few posts that have sparked a small bit of controversy, but none that deemed troll worthy. 300Six.....I've only read two of yours and they both seem geared towards starting trouble. Especially when you post in the "tomahawk" forum and end your last post with an unidentified person denouncing the use of the tool we are here to learn about.

There's a difference in voicing your opinion and blatantly trying to cause turbulence.
 
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LEGION 12 said:
That was the point I was trying to make my friend in my sarcastic way a perfect case of post less read more.
Click to expand...

I actually came back on to erase what I wrote bud. I had about 3-4 issues with what 300six said. But I am getting older and tired of the battles. :) Peace to all.
 
I know that in Afgan some sog hawks were used by some guys to tomahawk some bad guys in a village
 
But it's kinda true what 300six stated... native americans had known no way of forging (when I write forging, I'm speaking about "modern" methods, not only smelting/hammering [even cold] etc.), thus being "forced" to use flintstone/bone/horn/obsidian tools and weapons. Yes, they also used copper, but it was a simple method of cold hammering it, the result was not compareable to hawks from the time after columbus. The first time they have seen processed steel was when the vikings first landed there. Please correct me if I'm wrong, sources would be nice, too.
 
I ran across a story of a missionary in the North Woods who revisited the peoples that he had lived with years earlier. During that time he had gifted them with a large brass wine press in the hope they would take up agriculture and become a more stable society.

The unintended consequences were quite obvious on his return - the natives had chopped a huge amount of copper and brass out of the press to make arrow points. They were virtually on the edge of starvation as they had completely hunted out all the game within walking distance, and were in the process of packing up and moving to better grounds when the missionary revisited. The remaining hulk of the press was being abandoned.

Yes, early Americans were stone age, albeit a lot of their tools were bone and wood, too. Whether hunter-gatherer or somewhat agrarian, they were quick to accept metal tools and include them in their daily lives. The naval light boarding axes that became one item in trade with them were handled in the manner they were used to, and then used in the ways they did - not always what was intended.

I appreciate that the post was nuanced to be tongue in cheek - but not all that. Sure, when cartridge firearms came around, it finally displaced the hangers and Bowies that armed society used as a more dependable weapon. But it didn't mean the hawk was useless, even tho superceded as an arm.

If someone has a detailed analysis of exactly what was specifically incorrect in the post, I'm willing to hear it. But a blanket denial there is no truth to it whatsoever is difficult to accept. If the recorded history we hand down is inaccurate, then feel free to point out the better sources. I'm more than aware what we get from "approved" textbooks these days is a watered down and slanted version for mass dissemination.
 
i found some examples of some stones for sale as "PRE-HISTORIC ABORIGINAL ARTIFACTS OF NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICA" i like the look of number 5.
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Firearms,traps and tools of the mountain man has a very good detailed sections on axes and hawks..In many historical works Ive read hawks are often simply called "hatchets". Even so in many trade ledgers when they were ordered by the gross..
 
The ancient Mesopotamians had smallish light and quick fighting axes which were very much like tomahawks.
 
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