Just received a new CS Trailhawk--is this normal/acceptable?

Eric H

Eric H

Joined
Jul 15, 1999
Messages
541
After removing the set screw, I ended up having to pound the handle out of the head with a rubber mallet while securing the head in a padded vise. A main reason I ordered a hawk was the ability to easily remove and re-attach the head for transport. I've already emailed my concerns and pics to CS customer service--what do you think?

Pics:

IMG_2719.jpg

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IMO you should have left it. My beef is the damned things come loose too often.

Regards

Robin
 
cold steel. meh.

hawk heads SHOULD come off fairly easy.. thats' kind of the point.

Below the head should not be thicker than above the head... so again, cold steel.. meh. You get what you pay for, and they (CS) are like the Walmart of knives in my opinion.

CS fans, begin attacking me. :)

On another note, I just received a hawk from Wolf's Creek Forge. It's sweet!
 
CS hawks are a great deal for the money but IMO the haft and eye are the wrong shape. I really don't believe that a hawk head should be that easy to take off. Not fond of constantly pounding it back on and it eventually chews the crap out of your haft.

Regards

Robin
 
IMO this is worse than any I have seen. It should not hamper the function of the hawk and can be corrected with a little file work on the head and a little sanding on the haft. sloth357, I agree they are less expensive and not of the same quality finish as your Wolf's Creek Forge. However, they have great metal and can be modded easily, which most people do. See the thread on this forum. I can do a little work better than spend the extra money and make the hawk mine instead of someone else interpretation of my hawk. That doesn't mean I wouldn't love to have one of Robin's, Randy's, or another beauty that is beyond my ability to copy. Just another view.

Howard
 
Sloth357,

I agree with your sentiments (I've become a bit of a knife and gun 'snob' along those same lines), but this is my first hawk, and I'm interested in doing some modifications without having to worry about screwing up an expensive model. Also, I really like the smaller size of the trailhawk.

And again, a main selling point for me is to be able to easily remove the head. I'll be sure to post Cold Steel's customer service response.
 
Handaxeproman,

Thanks--glad to know that I'm not (necessarily) overreacting.
 
Agree with handaxepro, that's the worst I've seen, but can be corrected. In my experience CS customer service is great so you can expect help.
Cannot beat CS for giving you a basic hawk to mod.
 
Eric, IMO that is not that bad. The hawk will perform its function. If you are confident with carving, remove most of the high spots with a knife. Then sand the rest of the way. It will take longer if you just use sandpaper, but you are less likely to make a big mistake. Also, don't worry about getting a perfect fit. If you use the hawk, it will seat itself. Remember, it's metal against wood, and wood will always give way. My frontier hawk has about 65% contact around the eye and it works fine. Have fun with your new hawk.
 
Dogstar,

Unfortunately, there's more to it than just the fit at the end of the handle. I didn't mention it before, but I had to use the mallet to pound it down most of the handle, carving shavings the whole way, and I couldn't get it back on afterward without having to force it again. I think I may have just gotten a bad haft.
 
Eric, Get a round file and clean up the eye on the head then try it on the haft as is. It may fit more to your liking. If you sand the ridge off that haft the head is likely to more towards the top. I'm sure cold steel will fix you up with a new haft. It really is best to try to smooth out the inside of the eye before doing any alteration to the haft. Looks like you have a big burr at the front end of the eye and a smaller one at the back.


Best regards

Robin
 
Pipeman is exactly right. I think I may have said file work on the head instead of the eye as I meant to say. Have fun and make it your own.

Howard
 
Mine looks like yours though yours is a little worse then mine. I sanded the eye a bit and although I could go a little further with it to remove the burr it functions fine now. In fact it's my main woods blade. The head comes off when I want and stays put when I want it too. I had the same problem getting it off and on initially but now it's not a problem. Never been thrown though so not sure how that would effect it.
 
Going to get that paint off tonight as well. I figure that maybe removing that small layer might help too.
 
Okay, first off, that's not right. and second, Cold Steal sucks. That is why they are Cold "Steal"
 
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