I want my first hawk

K

KB3UBW

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Sep 11, 2011
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Im looking to get my first hawk, the only specifications I have are that it needs to be under $75 if possible, and I would prefer a spike hawk if possible. I will be using it for cutting small branches, throwing, and basic small outdoor/ camping use. Any and all help is appreciated.


Thanks in advance,
KB3UBW
 
Here are some great options all under $75
the m48 kommando is about $50
$(KGrHqZHJBIE9!z9)qn4BPRRLTVnmw~~60_3.jpg

S&W is around $50-60 and is a pretty hefty beast made of one solid piece of what is about 5/16" thick or more
smith-wesson-hatchet-extraction-evasion-sw671.jpg

The SOG is nice and only costs about $35-40
SOG99069.jpg

Cold steel has the Spike hawk w/ hickory handle for about $25 and the trench hawk with polypropylene handle for about $40
cold_steel_spike_hawk_axe_540.jpgcold_steel_trench_hawk_90PTH_540.jpg
 
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There are also decent choices from Condor
They have the TRT(tactical response tomahawk) about $65, and a smaller spike hawk that can have wood scales or a skeleton handle for wrapping which is about $45-50
condor-ctk4012trt-tactical-rescue-tomahawk.jpgCTK4010BC_full_9105.jpgp1010224.jpg
 
The SOG is extremely popular though I myself don't have one(yet) and I think would be a good choice. But are you planning on using this in the woods? Why do you want a spike instead of a hammer poll? The M48 has gotten some decent reviews too and I think it looks the coolest should that factor in for you,lol. It comes in all black, black/OD green, black/yellow, black/orange and black/toxic(neon) green. Also I forgot about this one yesterday, its the Browning combat axe and costs about $68 but its a short handle at only 11".
browning spike axe.jpg
 
Yes I am planning to use it in the woods, I was thinking about the spike poll cause I like the way they look and they are useful but if you think that a different poll would work better feel free to give me your argument and I'll think about it. Also if you had to pick between the sog and the m48 what would you pick?
 
I've been pondering getting the Browning Shock 'n' Awe even if just to do a review on it. I've been looking for a compact hawk (something in the 10 inch range) to keep on my gear. Although I love my shrike and GK&T CQB Hawk, I'm still looking for something shorter. Before I commit to the Browning, does anyone here actually care for a review of it?
 
KB3UBW said:
Im looking to get my first hawk, the only specifications I have are that it needs to be under $75 if possible, and I would prefer a spike hawk if possible. I will be using it for cutting small branches, throwing, and basic small outdoor/ camping use. Any and all help is appreciated.


Thanks in advance,
KB3UBW
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You know, for about $25 more, you could get a Fort Turner Roger's Rangers spike hawk. I hear nothing but good things about Dana's work. The only problem is, Dana's a victim of his own success. He's back-logged for a couple months on his orders. Worth the wait though, from what I've seen and heard. Waiting for my Ranger hawk to get here, and it's killing me.
 
Simple Jumper said:
I've been pondering getting the Browning Shock 'n' Awe even if just to do a review on it. I've been looking for a compact hawk (something in the 10 inch range) to keep on my gear. Although I love my shrike and GK&T CQB Hawk, I'm still looking for something shorter. Before I commit to the Browning, does anyone here actually care for a review of it?
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Yes! I have a small fast hawk my Fiancée allowed me to commission being made by a maker here. I'll post up pics when it's done, but in the meantime I'd love to hear some thoughts on the browning.
 
I've held the Browning and it's not too bad, it's better than I had imagined it would be. The edge suprised me, as far as how well it's made. Looks like it would do some decent chopping and could perform well enough in a combat situation, for it's length. I thought the cord wrapped handle requires gloves, the cord is epoxy soaked and hard, it would probably tear up your hands during serious use. The edge was sharp and the grind was thinner than I had imagined, in a good way. So, the head is thinner than lots of breaching hawks, and even the Fasthawk. The spike is not sharpened, nor pointed, but somewhat rounded off. I've had a few spikes that rounded off after punching some wood, so it's no worse off to start that way. It would still deliver a much deeper puncture than the SOG Fasthawk, which can't punture anything at all.
The Fasthawk is tougher than I had imagined though. It's been beat on, thrown lots of times and shows no signs of breaking.
 
i purchased a pollished fasthawk ,seems ok for the price but i dont care for the plastic handle,i bought it after watching a guy on youtube bashing cement blocks with it and a cold steel trench hawk and a m48,seemed tough enough,but i want another cold steel with a wood handle,to mod,maybe a norse hawk this time.
 
Street Samurai1978 said:
You know, for about $25 more, you could get a Fort Turner Roger's Rangers spike hawk. I hear nothing but good things about Dana's work. The only problem is, Dana's a victim of his own success. He's back-logged for a couple months on his orders. Worth the wait though, from what I've seen and heard. Waiting for my Ranger hawk to get here, and it's killing me.
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Yeah I got a FT Buck Hawk and it's become my favorite. I think my next might be a spiked Buck. It's just too good.
 
I wouldnt get the CS Trench hawk. It breaks handles very easily. I have 2 heads in my garage, Ive gone through at least 5 handles and dont want to put anymore on them.
 
My roommate HAD an M48. We used it to punch holes in the bottom of a PLASTIC drum and it destroyed the spike. Guess it's nothing that some file work can't fix but it really really dulled it out and deformed it. Also came dull as hell.. Needless to say he gave it to his little brother shortly after that.
 
The Cold Steel hawks are pretty good for the price, and you could customize them yourself or have them sent off to a member here to do so.
 
I have both the m48 and SOG tactical hawk. I strongly recommend for you the SOG. The spike is square and more practical for camp chores in the woods like diggin trenches. The axe head itself is more utilitarian. The SOG is based on the Vietnam era tactical hawks soldiers would carry. This means it is very functional in survival situations. There is a milled middle area for hammer chores, there are large milled holes (much bigger and usuable than the M48) for pulling up tent stakes or removing nails. The sog comes decently sharp but minimal time on my Sharpmaker enabled the edge to cut paper with sickening ease and crispness. The SOG is a very able chopper for gathering kindling and getting 3" logs for the fire. The m48 is a dull novelty axe designed for defensive purposes. It has little practical use in a woods setting.
 
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