Itchin' to mod my Norse Hawk!

[steve-in-kville]

I bought this on a whim a few years back. Never used it, still has the plastic cover on the edge. I read over a lot of the sticky'd thread on modding the CS hawks, but still have some questions as to how to remove the black paint and so on.

Is it easy to remove the head? Do I re-stain the handle after the head is remounted?

Tips? Tricks?

 

[LEGION 12]

I bought this on a whim a few years back. Never used it, still has the plastic cover on the edge. I read over a lot of the sticky'd thread on modding the CS hawks, but still have some questions as to how to remove the black paint and so on.

Is it easy to remove the head? Do I re-stain the handle after the head is remounted?

Tips? Tricks?

Steve soak the head in paint remover then use a wire brush to clean the rest . Get rid of the set screw head should come off easy stain the handle let it dry then reinstall it.

 

[LEGION 12]

Here is a hawk I rehafted not a cold steel hawk but used the same principal.

 

[LEGION 12]

A Viking ax I also rehafted.

 

[steve-in-kville]

Steve soak the head in paint remover then use a wire brush to clean the rest . Get rid of the set screw head should come off easy stain the handle let it dry then reinstall it.

Paint remover or paint stripper? I read about both (used both, too!)

Thanks!

 

[LEGION 12]

Paint remover or paint stripper? I read about both (used both, too!)

Thanks!

Either will work I can't remember which I used but it was some kind of paste.

 

[steve-in-kville]

Either will work I can't remember which I used but it was some kind of paste.

Sounds like a stripper I used on a hardwood floor. Thick stuff.

 

[B.Mauser]

I have fixed up a bunch of cold steel hawks. Paint stripper is what you want. I like Kleen Strip but whatever brand you find for sale near you will work.

Yes it should be pretty easy to remove the head. Usually the set screw is the only thing keeping it on and it falls off as soon as you remove it. It might need a few wacks with a piece of wood to come off.

Rather than using a proper fiction fit,Cold Steel uses a machine to force the heads on the handles then depends on a set screw to keep them in place. It gouges up the handle pretty good most the time.

So you want to pitch the set screw and clean up the handle and inside of the head to achieve a nice friction fit.

My favorite way to fix these up is to buy a new handle when I buy the hawk. They are only about $10. Then you get one that was never mangled by cold steel and it fits and looks great. Still takes some fitting but much less usually.

I like to stain the whole handle first then put the head on last. It can scratch it up a bit but touches up easily.


Here are my favorites, I liked them too much to sell these two.

 

[steve-in-kville]

Thanks for the replies! I got me a can of stripper and some mineral spirits for cleanup. I plan to strip the head and sand the handle a bit, add a darker glaze or stain and lacquer (not sure yet... I have some reading to do on the subject!).