Kephart Tomahawk?

B

bearthedog

Joined
May 17, 2006
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4,290
In the book “Camping and Woodcraft” Horace Kephart mentions using an Indian tomahawk with a 12 oz head and 12” handle, wrapped in wax twine for a secure grip.

Does anyone know where I could find on like this (made in the USA and not stainless steel)?

-RB
 
Horace Kephart mentions using an Indian tomahawk with a 12 oz head and 12” handle
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Using it for what exactly?

Tough one... that's pretty small....! I'm not one for 24 inch handles or even 20 but anything less than 16" would feel a bit weird to me I think. A head that is roughly 12 oz shouldn't be hard to find and you can always cut and wrap the handle yourself..

The "Lady's" tomahawk here (no offense if you're a man :P ) might fit the bill...

http://www.hbforge.com/products/tomahawks.php

Handle is 15 inches but can be cut of course. Head should be in the 12 oz neighborhood. H & B forge is pretty highly thought of.
 
The Lady's Hawk still looks to be around 2 pounds!

I won't be throwing it, just chopping and splitting. If the edge is good, maybe doing some fuzzies?

-RB
 
Hey Bear, glad to see you here. May have to mod a Tomahawk down to your specs. Do you want something that look Traditional or a tactical looking little packer hacker? I kow you do a lot of ultra light hiking and aren't really out to kill a forest.

So you could buy an inexpensive hawk like a Cold Steel and cut down the handle and maybe grind off some of the head to get close to the weight and size you are after.

OR You might consider a Gransfors Bruks Mini at 11 inches long and pretty light weight, sharp and handy, but kinda pricey at $160-$180 or so...

OR
May go to J K Knives on this forum and look at the thread, All my Chopping Tools and have a look.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/918542-All-My-Chopping-Tools
 
omniviking said:
Hey Bear, glad to see you here. May have to mod a Tomahawk down to your specs. Do you want something that look Traditional or a tactical looking little packer hacker? I kow you do a lot of ultra light hiking and aren't really out to kill a forest.

So you could buy an inexpensive hawk like a Cold Steel and cut down the handle and maybe grind off some of the head to get close to the weight and size you are after.

OR You might consider a Gransfors Bruks Mini at 11 inches long and pretty light weight, sharp and handy, but kinda pricey at $160-$180 or so...

OR
May go to J K Knives on this forum and look at the thread, All my Chopping Tools and have a look.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/918542-All-My-Chopping-Tools
Click to expand...

Hey Pat.
I am about as Tactical as a pack of Twinkies. Simple, light, and on the side of tradition-that's what I like!

I don't want something I have to work on, just not enough time. I want to grab the package and head out.

The Gransors Bruks I reviewed for the December issue of SWAT. It was Jeff Randall's, but he let me beat it up pretty good.

-RB
 
Hey Pat.
I am about as Tactical as a pack of Twinkies. Simple, light, and on the side of tradition-that's what I like!
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You are a man after my own heart. :thumbup:

Thanks. Any ideas on the rest of the specs? The site doesn't say much.
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Sorry, I wouldn't know anything beyond the website really.

Here's another suggestion though:

I have seen Ft Turner highly praised on these forums and elsewhere too, I plan on getting one myself. I see they make one even smaller than that H&B lady's hawk (1.25 lbs altogether:)
http://www.fortturner.com/store/index.htm
 
ShawDAMAN said:
You are a man after my own heart. :thumbup:



Sorry, I wouldn't know anything beyond the website really.

Here's another suggestion though:

I have seen Ft Turner highly praised on these forums and elsewhere too, I plan on getting one myself. I see they make one even smaller than that H&B lady's hawk (1.25 lbs altogether:)
http://www.fortturner.com/store/index.htm
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+1 , I've got the Trapper version and it feels pretty light in hand. It feels a little lighter than a Fiskars X7 hatchet. Also, there is the FT Scout hawk minus the poll that would probably even lighter w/ a 16" handle. The only thing with the handles is that they are kind of thin, and you would have to wrap a grip tape around the handle for a secure grip. Also, they are forged out of 1020 with a 1095 cutting bit (made in the USA).
 
I think you're in custom territory if you don't want to work on it. I have CS Trail Hawk that I've cut down and weighs 17 oz with sheath and haft so it's probably around 12 ounce in the head. I cut the hammer pole off and shortened the haft to 12 inches.
 
Shotgun said:
I think you're in custom territory if you don't want to work on it. I have CS Trail Hawk that I've cut down and weighs 17 oz with sheath and haft so it's probably around 12 ounce in the head. I cut the hammer pole off and shortened the haft to 12 inches.
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This is the first thing I thought of, shouldn't run you much money either, and the trail hawk can do a lot.
 
To all the people who recommended the Cold Steel trail hawk, it occurred to me too, but he requested a hawk that is made in the USA and cold steels 'hawks are made in Taiwan. :thumbdn:

Timelord: thanks for the testimonial on the trapper hawk. :thumbup:
 
bearthedog said:
Thanks. Any ideas on the rest of the specs? The site doesn't say much.

-RB
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I just popped the head off my daughter's H&B squaw I think it is (the little one) and it is 10.2 oz. They also make one with the same head but a thicker handl that I could take apart if you PM me. I think you would like it better.
 
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Not a hawk, but how about the Condor 2012 scout hatchet? Might be workable, and much cheaper than GB (GB folks don't set me on fire, thx).
 
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