How sharp should a tomahawk be?

I

InSilvam

Joined
Jul 8, 2012
Messages
26
Hi guys,

I'm relatively new to Tomahawks. I got my first one (a CS Spike Hawk which I wanted to mod) two weeks ago, and I gave it a convex edge using this tutorial: http://bill-hay.com/Convex/ConvexGrinds.htm

I used a medium/fine combination sharpening stone, and finished the process with a leather strop with polishing paste. The hawk turned out sharp enough to cut paper, but not shaving sharp.

But now I was wondering, whether a Tomahawk, given its lower weight compared to a hatchet, should probably better be shaving sharp (like a knife) or not? How sharp do you sharpen your hawks?

Best regards
Sebastian

PS: I intend to use my hawks for general all-around outdoor use, but mainly chopping.
 
Most people here (from what I see) try to get even their hatchets and axe as sharp as possible. Either way. Shaving sharp is a good start but not the end all be all. Side note. I like convexing the edge, then putting a v grind micro bevel on it. Helps with glancing and easier touch up
 
I've always questioned this myself. You see in most movies (I know entertainment) the hawks are most often carried tucked in the belt, blade exposed. I'm guessing a lot of people get a hawk kind of based on the idea of it being a great weapon and tool, and fancy themselves like they see in movies. (just caught a few minutes of "patriot" w/Mel Gibson just today).

If the hawk is really sharp, sharp like most knife people would want a blade, carrying it tucked into your belf for fast deployment without any sheath to protect the blade would be crazy. You would be bleeding very soon if doing much of anything I would think.

As a weapon I guess it would not really need to be very sharp at all, its weight coupled with the speed at which its swung would do massive damage even it completly dull. But as a tool, a light chopper, it needs a good edge to cut (less to knock off small branches from a tree) . So I've always been interested in just how sharp were the hawks carried by say, Indians and early colonial Americans...or were the hawks carried in a safer way then as they are portrayed?

Once I had one of those Vietnam tomahawks remakes, and I just could not see how it could be carried and used as a weapon effectively unless it was unsheathed and used in an ambush attack. When in the sheath it was far too slow to pull out, and I had it far too sharp to carry without a sheath. Ultimately that was just a thought, as I never carried it, it was just a fun toy to throw, and it flew vey well.
 
There's a point of diminishing returns for some types of hawks. I like to have mine sharp, yet, some have fatter edges, some have thinner edges. None of them are shaving sharp, mostly because I don't use them for cleaning game.
For throwers, I just don't even try to give them perfect edges, meaning I don't invest lots of time and energy into them. For something like a combat hawk, I would want a sheath that allows quick deployment, so that the edge can be as sharp as possible.

For wood chopping, a good convex shape and a very sharp edge all the way. You want as much chopping ablilty as the hawk can produce, I like a very sharp edge.
 
Ok thanks for the advise guys, I did some wood chopping with my Norse Hawk yesterday, and I worked good enough for me - so I guess I'll stay with paper-cutting sharp.
 
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