I want a longer handle for my hawk

[wildmanh]

I have had a Large French hawk from Keith Johnson of Great River Forge for about 2.5 years now. Have been doing a bit of throwing, chopping and splitting with the hawk over the last 6 to 8 months and like it a lot. It has about a 16oz head and weighs IIRC 22oz with the 18" Handle. Here are some pictures:

As you can see, there is no haft sticking out from the end of the head and the handle is rather slender. That happened after proper fitting and use. I would like to have at least 4 more inches to the handle so at least a 22" haft, probably 24" with some room above the head. What wooden hafts do you guys recommend? The option to have a 2 handed grip would be lovely. IMO the head is perfect, I just need to find a longer haft that works for it and me. So what do you think? Again, I'd like to keep to a wood haft. Thanks,

Heber

 

[Pipeman]

Hey Heber

I've been really enjoying throwing with the 21 inch hafts on the new CS hawks, never tried a 24 inch haft.

Regards

Robin

 

[McCarthy]

Great looking hawk, do you own any cold steel hawks u can compare it to?

 

[wildmanh]

Great looking hawk, do you own any cold steel hawks u can compare it to?

I have a Trail hawk. The handle is thicker then the one on my Fench hawk and perfect. It's a little longer then the French, but in storage so I can't measure it right now. IMO The Trail hawk's handle is long enough for it, but could be longer. And it's definantly not long enough for the French hawk.

Maybe I should get a 30" Haft and cut it down till I like it? Will the Cold Steel 30" Halfs work on a Trail hawk with out being thinned down?

 

[raybateson]

I would simply make one.

 

[wildmanh]

I would simply make one.

I will probably do that. Was just hoping that will all the mods people have done to hawks, they could give me some idea as to where I should start.

Was at the hardware store today buying some stuff for my mom's wood stove. On my way out I walked passed the isle with Hatchets, Axes, shovels and the like. Found a small Axe handle that might work great. To bad I didn't have the $12 to pick up the handle. Maybe in a couple paychecks.

If anyone has any ideas or know what would work for my Great River Forge hawk, please let me know. . . Scrub Oak is plentifull around here in the food hills. Anyone ever used it for a hawk handle? Think it would work?

 

[wildmanh]

Found a 36" Hickory Sledge/Maul handle the the other day at the hardware store. It's only $14.95 so I'll probably pick it up for my hawk when I have the money. Figure I'll attach the handle to my hawk and if it's to long, I'll start cutting it down till I like the length. It's going to be a little while before I can buy the handle but when I do, I'll take pictures of my project.

 

[Wolf_1989]

Cold Steel's 30" handles do not have the same cross sectional dimensions as their tomahawks as they are meant for the War Hammer. This is why when I used one on a Norse Hawk, it finally fitted properly... right at the very end.

I'm back to carving and fitting sledgehammer handles for my tomahawks. It's time consuming work to get it done right, but worth it.

 

[Cpl Punishment]

The Warhammer haft actually fit pretty good on my Pipe hawk. I wonder if the eye on the new one is different from the old ones? The only old ones I have are Trail hawks modded by Vec.

Problem I had with the pipe hawk's haft is they drilled the hole for the set screw too low, so if you use it, the head wobbles around, as it isn't friction fitted to the haft where they drilled the hole. I wish they'd leave the haft alone and let people do the final fitting.

 

[Zog the Troll]

I made a long handle for my trail hawk from part of a wheelbarrow handle from the local hardware store using a bench plane and some sandpaper (oh, plus a sharpie to mark the high spots). It worked great as the rough stock was square so it was easier to clamp & maintain position, so your profile doesn't wobble as it goes up the shaft. I also made a slightly over-sized profile template out of some plywood for the rough shape, and the used the hawk head for final fit. really, any handle can be used to make your own as long as it has enough material for the cross section. Good luck & have fun.