How does the Absence of a Poll affect the Balance of a Hawk?

[Marion David Poff]

So, how does the absence of a poll affect the balance of a hawk?

I have heard, I think I agree, that a poll, whether it be hammer or spike balances out the head, making it less likely to roll on contact, etc.....

What do you all think?

I think I have found the hawk that I will buy, other than the customized CS that I have, but it is poll-less, and that is bothering me so far, but I am open to new ideas.

 

[DancesWithKnives]

I've done some chopping and utility chores with Two Hawks' Competition model and the absence of a poll does not seem to be a hindrance at all. I have noticed no difficulties whatsoever. However, the poll on his Longhunter makes the head a little heavier so it does bite a bit deeper on impact. Of course, the extra weight also means a little more fatigue during prolonged use, and the Longhunter would be slower if used for fighting applications.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

An axe should be center head balanced so as to make the swing more uniform and increase the depth and accuracy or the hits. This means that the center of balance of the axe should be right in the middle of the eye. If the axe has no poll, as with some tomahawks, the balance point is shifted far towards the bit and the performance suffers.

Note this performance loss can be masked by the chopping ability. I have spent some time in the last year working on my chopping and have been as of late been able to notice things "wrong" with blades that I could not tell before because my lack of teqhnique was overshadowing the problems.

Also, balance is of course just one of many factors in determing performance. Many cheap axes are center head balanced and horrible choppers because the profile of the bit is much too thick. I would pick the Cold Steel norse tomahawk that I have reground over most hardward store hatchets even though they are center head balanced and the CS tomahawk is not.

-Cliff

 

[mwkerr]

Are you gonna throw your 'hawk? Two Hawk's competition 'hawks have no poll, and as long as you do your part, they almost stick on their own. You want to do camp chores? Two Hawks canoe axe will cut kindling all day, that has a poll and it's a great little camp tool. Not worried about size or how much you spend? Check out the tools at Gransfors Bruks. It really matters what the application you are looking for a tool for. If I was looking to get my winter wood supply in, I'd recommend a Husquavarna.

 

[DancesWithKnives]

This is slightly off of your question, but just out of curiosity I weighed the Competition and Longhunter on a very accurate digital scale. The Competition went 15.8 ounces and the Longhunter (with poll, rawhide reinforcing by Two Hawks, and paracord handle wrap by me) was 19.3. I estimate that a bare Longhunter (no wrapping) would probably average about 18.6-18.8 ounces.