If you could only have ONE tomahawk....

BePrepared

BePrepared

Joined
Aug 26, 2010
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Which of these options would you choose for a general purpose hawk with a focus on a combat/survival implement

Swamp Rat Rattle Hawk
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RMJ Talon
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RMJ Shrike
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Hardcore Hardware Battle Hawk
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If you know of an option that you feel is superior to the ones listed for the purposes i mentioned, please list a picture of it, and why you think it's better.
 
I've been wanting to get a tomahawk, though I've put aside knife/tool expenditures for guns recently. But I'd like a RMJ Shrike or a Sayoc-Winkler R&D.

But there are plenty of good non-tactical models out there.
 
Storm crow's aka james at Helm Forge pry spike hawk

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The only Hawk I own is the S13 but I'd give the Shrike the edge in that it's handle protects you from electrical shock should you hit a live wire while breaching to enter or escape a bad place.
 
Shrike if money was no option due to electrical hazards if money was an option which it is for most of us Helm Forge pry hawk.
 
Do everything Hawk, huh?? VTAC Lagana. It's the most portable one I have. It's just always there. And bombproof. And swings like a dream- I KNOW I can dance with it if I had to in a hairy situation. See, I never understood the whole processing wood thing, even in winter camping. I cut very little timber out of necessity in the woods. I just pick it up off the ground or break it open with my foot. And if not immediatly available, I walk around abit and find it. And if I REALLY need wood(building a semi-permanent base camp) I use a saw. My knife does everything else I need for camping. I frankly carry a hawk more for a defensive tool and general purpose smasher/chopper than a "wood processor" which as I said I never understood. Defending my life, I understand, even if a one in a million chance. A VTAC is life insurance policy one hopes never to use. Ps-, in the lagana sheath, I've placed a bird trout knife, a small flint and steel, a small fishing kit and small lighter, all hidden discretely. Everything but the knife fits under the plastic where the spike rests and is held in place by tape. So a little back up survival kit if all I have is my Hawk and sheath :)
 
PatrickKnight said:
Shrike if money was no option due to electrical hazards if money was an option which it is for most of us Helm Forge pry hawk.
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Same, I would go with my shrike s13, with helm forge right behind. Out of the choices of the op, it would be the shrike for sure. But I do like the design of the rattle hawk.
 
I can't speak of the above mentioned options, but I have owned and used a Swamp Rat Kill Devil Hawk. But, I sold it shortly after buying it due to not liking how it felt in the hand. Recently, I had the opportunity to test out a few 'hawks from James Helm (Storm Crow) and his designs fit my hand like a glove and I thoroughly enjoy testing them.

With that being said, my personal choice would be a James Helm tactical hawk (combat spike version).
 
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Not really tactical, but my favorite of the ones I have owned and used is a custom by H&B Forge. Great blade, a joy to use and could still serve as a weapon, if you needed it.
 
BePrepared said:
Reasons why you think it's superior to all the listed options?
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I have played with several RMJs which by the way he makes a magnificent hawks, I have also used the VTAC the Emerson and only 1 winkler made for the Sayoc Kali system of FMA. I have also used the older K5 which is now the benchmade 142. Everyone of these hawks are great in their own way. But honestly I like a full 18 in length in a hawk, the design of James' hawks and the versatility of his hawks. It is the most utilitarian full tang hawk there is right now. If can process wood, bust holes in cement, I made feather sticks when I first got it and it is one hell of a fighting weapon. The last reason I feel StormCrows' hawks reign supreme is also the price. His base price is 2 hundred. Of all quality and life depending full tang hawks his price is less than 100-150 cheaper than the low end quality hawks, and it is 2-3x cheaper than the top half. But I may be a little biased but I feel for the price and everything you get can't be beat. Just my 2 cents
 
All of the above hawks are great, except for the HH if theyre still using D2 IMO. RMJ has great customer service, and makes a great hawk. Swamprat's steel takes the sharpest edge Ive ever seen, and they also have pretty good customer service. As a beater, I'd go with the Kill devil (it's webbed to my daypack as I type this), and as a combat hawk, I like the talon because of the reach it has, compared to the shorter kestrel, shrike, or sayok. And the edges on the rattle hawk seem a bit overkill IMO. Another good brand is the SelfRelianceEssentials--Their Recon, or 3B hawk looks pretty bad, although RMJ and Swamprat use a better steel than SREs O1.
 
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