Is the Comanche the best emergency hawk

T

Twindog

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I'm new to hawks, although my Gransfors Bruks carpenter's hatchet is one of my most useful tools. In a head-to-head competion with a HI WWII khukri, the Gransfors won easily.

Now my birthday is coming up and I was thinking of giving myself an ATC Comanche with long handle. Partly, it's just a nice toy and a way to experiment with hawks as a natural extension of my interest in knives. I'd also like to use it when I go motorcycling in some very remote areas as an emergency tool -- something that could chop through a small log, if needed, build a lean-to, pry, etc. I like the idea of a full-metal frame, and the Comanche's steel (N690C) looks good, although I wonder about the 58-60 Rc hardness, which seems higher than other hawks, but may be good for wood chopping. I love the idea of G10 scales. Maybe carbon fiber would be better, but G10 is great. And I like the long handle just in case I do have to cut through a log.

But I'm not rich and this is an expensive hawk. I'd appreciate some thoughts on whether this is the best emergency hawk or if I'm missing a better one.
 
The Comanche was designed to serve many applications, specificaly the tasks you mentioned. Don't be alarmend by the Rockwell hardness, as this is quite common in Stainless steels. This steel is designed to offer a balanced combination of edge holding and lateral strength, which is simular or slightly better then 440C.

The Ax has been a exstensively field tested and has proven to be an outstanding performer in chopping, throwing or prying....with no reported ill effects.

The G-10 is better then carbon fiber, for this design. The G-10 is textured and offers an outstanding grip, so the ax will not be as likely to slip out of your hand while chopping. Carbon Fiber is very smooth.

Hope this helps :)
 
I have the long handled model its great. Well worth the money !!!
Why settle for the rest when you can have the best ..Get one..
 
Mr. Sibert reached out and asked that I share a few remarks on this thread regarding the Comanche.

The spontoon tomahawk style is deeply rooted in American history. Several were carried and used by members of the Lewis and Clark expeditionary force.

The sizzle of the Comanche is indeed, its broad and razor sharp spontoon, coupled with a traditional cutting bit. Modern material, heat treating, and a grind design i.e. (heavily radiused plunge line) allow the functionality of this spontoon tomahawk to really shine.

The collaboration between Shane, Gabriele Frati and me was to strike a even balance on Shane's unique Tomahawk shape between overall weight, inherhent strength, and product performance. We believe the dimensions of the Comanche have achieved that goal. At .200 stock, there are indeed thicker integral axes on the market than the Comanche. Not one of them however are as dimensionally large or offer anywhere near the amount of total cutting surface. If they did, they would simply be too heavy at .25 or even .22 stock. .187 (3/16th) just didn't offer the strength we wanted.

The Comanche is well-balanced....the Tactical model is 1.75 lbs and the Long model is 2.05 lbs. Their weight distribution is achieved by the size of the vent holes in the head and the number of vent holes under the scales.

The Long Comanche is indeed, our most powerful chopper...its razor sharp cutting bit has laughed at nearly every specie of wood found in the Pacific Northwest. On hard targets, N690Co resists wear and chipping suprisingly well for a stainless material. I have personally thrown both sizes of Comanche at a late 60's junkyard pickup...with the express purpose of bringing the Comanche to failure. I cannot tell you how many times the Comanche blew through a fender and bounced out because of lack of continued resistance. It's steel just wasn't thick enough to stop it. While the edges lost their razor sharpness, there were no nicks or chips on any cutting edge...not one.

Members of 5th SFG undergo private contractor classes on various subjects on a regular basis. Last week, one such contractor called me to advise me of the breaching classes that have included the Comanche-Tactical. He informed me that the Comanche has defeated every door and window brought before it...of course, these were doors and windows that were, in the assessment of the instructor, reasonable. We don't suggest you try to open a safe door or reinforced steel door with one...there are power tools for those. Use common sense and your Comanche will do the rest.

Hope this helps.
 
Thank you very much for those excellent replies. However, I was kind of afraid that I would get this type of feedback. Now I have no excuse not to buy one. I'm also in the Pacific Northwest (Olympic Peninsula), so wood chopping tends to be a big requirement.

Thanks.
 
Well, I know I'm going to ruffle some feathers, and it's really not my intent...... Absolutely no offense intended to Shane or Andy. I totally respect their opinion and the design characteristics of the Comanche, but......

Even though I own a Comanche (albeit, the short version), I can say that it would not be my first choice an an emergency hawk. It's a great hawk, but I think I'd want something a little more substantial. When I think emergency, I think of cutting my way out of a car roof, making shelter, cutting firewood, using as a weapon, etc. Is the Comanche up to the task.......I'd like to think it is! No doubt in my mind, but I feel that the K5 hawk would be my choice, and is in fact, the one hawk that will reside in my go to hell bag.

I've got quite a bit of experience in the weeds, so I'm not taking this decision lightly or from the view of an armchair commando. Out of 21yrs of svc, 17 were in SF, right here at 1st SFG(A). I also spent a year in El Sal, and a ton of time in South East Asia. I've been in situations where I'd have loved to have had a hawk to breach with, or to extract people from mangled metal, or simply as a great field tool.

Honestly, it could be that I've only handled the short version and not the longer one that makes my decision as such........

Obviously, your mileage may vary!!! :D
 
MikeA...absolutely so offense taken. Everyone is entitled to their preferences.

The Comanche is a balance between weight and cutting power.

The K5 is a brute...it's lives for heavy work. It's edges and construction make that clear. Personally, its cutting geometry doesn't strike me as an efficient wood chopper, but for drywall, cinder block, or anything that requires something more acute than blunt tramua, it probably works very well.

There is no free lunch, as most folks already know. Beef something up...it gets heavier...make something thicker, it typically doesn't do finesse work as well as something thinner.

I guess it would depend on the kind of Emergency! ;)
 
I agree with you 100% on these points Andy.

If weight was a factor, and if the "survival" situation was in the woods, then the K5 would not be my choice. Without a doubt, I'd be carrying something like a more traditional hawk or the Comanche (probably the longer version for the chopping/cutting leverage). Like you stated, the edge geometry on the K5 wouldn't lend itself quite as well as a woodsman's axe.

If weight was not a factor, and the place of business was in an urban/combat environment, I'd go for the K5. Personally, I think it's better suited. Thinner blades would suffer (more) in this environment.

Now, since we can't realistically choose our "survival" situations, we have to hope that we are prepared in such a manner as to do the best to stay alive, and that means opt for the best gear that is well rounded enough to do the trick in nearly any situation. Depending on the geographic constraints, weather/season, urban/rural, etc, our gear will be largely dictated by the same. Choosing the tools to combat the elements shouldn't be taken lightly, and getting back to the spirit of the thread, I think the Comanche would be fine in a more rural environment. It just wouldn't be my first choice.
 
a newbie to the "Tom" Forum - where can one obtain a Sibery Comanche... they look "ready for business" :D

thanks...just picked up a VTAC from an auction....a nice place to start :cool:
 
No, the best emergency hawk is the VTAC. :)!!!! If you can find one that will outlast the VTAC, i will buy you and me one. ;)
 
What's a K-5? :rolleyes: yeah, I'm lookin' at the Comanche too...and a Mineral Mountain...anything else in the mix I should see before I "pull the trigger"?

Bottom line - if I carry the piece, it's more likely to get thrown in a defense mode, ala' "Ching-gich-cook" rather than used in the back country - the Comanch is footin' the bill at this point, but I'd LOVE suggestions...
 
You cant go wrong with the Comanche, I have the long handled model and let me tell you it is a Beautiful Beast. It will hold up to any task you put it up to. ( with common sense in mind )
I also have 4 VTAC's that have been thru much abuse and come thru with fyling colors.
For the Extreme go Comanche !
 
thanks for the input -

Any experience, or inside ionfo, on Mineral Mountain's Battle Hatchet's...? They look to ooze "of wicked intent" :eek:
 
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