Looking to buy Tomahawk $100.00 to spend

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Okieblade

Joined
Jan 23, 2013
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Looking to purchase first tomahawk. I'd like to have full tang if possible. I have around $100.00 to spend. Any suggestions?

Thanks much
 
I've seen and heard a lot of good reviews about the Boker Vox, single piece. Pretty hearty... I like the cold steel ones my self. Never have to worry about a handle.
 
Like: GB wildlife (not sure if this meets your idea of hawk). Multiple cold steel trail hawk and spike hawk. Trail for tool versatility and spike for cool design..

Don't like: SOG fusion
 
get one from twohawks proper tool :thumbup:
 
Okieblade,

It would be helpful if you tell everyone what "type" of hawk you are looking for and how you are going to use it. As you can see, without that infomation everyone just gives you their favorite rather than suggest one that will work for you; everything from a CS Trailhawk (woodsman tools) to the CRKT Kangee or Chogan (breaching tools). These two types of hawks are polar opposites and really can't even be considered the same type of tool.

Right now, the fad in hawks are these military style breaching tomahawks that have little or no use outside of that role. Plus all the really good ones will cost 3 or 4 or 5 times the price you stated.
 
shortwinger said:
Okieblade,

It would be helpful if you tell everyone what "type" of hawk you are looking for and how you are going to use it. As you can see, without that infomation everyone just gives you their favorite rather than suggest one that will work for you; everything from a CS Trailhawk (woodsman tools) to the CRKT Kangee or Chogan (breaching tools). These two types of hawks are polar opposites and really can't even be considered the same type of tool.

Right now, the fad in hawks are these military style breaching tomahawks that have little or no use outside of that role. Plus all the really good ones will cost 3 or 4 or 5 times the price you stated.
Click to expand...

Spot on Brother! I agree with this statement, even though I own several "tactical" hawks. My head is thick, and my learning curve is long. I had the idea that an Ontario RD Hawk would be good for backpacking, wrong! This was several years ago, and since then I have got a few axes, and a saw for backpacking. Heck, I'd rather take a machete than most full tang tactical hawks. Unless you're looking at a Winkler with his full tapered tang. The weight on these are mostly in the head, and not the handle.
The Kangee and Chogan are a good hawks for the price, but not the best option for wood processing. The weight is just not forward enough in the head. Traditional hawks are lighter than hatchets, but still have that mass of steel at the head. Speed helps with chopping power, but a heavy handle doesn't help at all.
OTOH, if you just want a fun hawk, the CRKT hawks are a great option. I just got the Kangee for $109 shipped! It's not an RMJ in execution, but they are good.
 
full tang is not the only way to go. either several CS hawks or an ATC VTAC... Rather surprised no one has recommended one yet.
 
Foxx,

I got the Twohawks WarBeast as a Christmas present and while it is a very impressive hawk, handling it is like giving a wildcat a bath while you are blindfolded. You are getting cut every time! Those tactical hawks have a really steep learning curve and require the correct kind of sheath (which I do not have) and they demand your full attention every second you use them. Luckily the WarBeast does have cutting wood in its job description, so while it is not as good as my GFB at chopping, it does the job well. And in its defense it wasn't designed to be a dedicated chopper of wood. But I can say this, whatever you do hit with it, is officially chopped!

I would have loved one of those smaller tactical hawks when I was in the Marines, something like an RJM Kestrel or Shrike but they weren't popular or available back then. (This was back before Al Gore invented the internet!!!)
 
Thanks for the replies. Guess I should have listed a little more info. I really like the CRKT hawks and they are within my price range. Thet might be just a tad too tactical "type" for me. Looking for something I can backpack with and chop wood if need be. A little bit of the breeching type tool is fine, just not looking for that dedicated role.

Shortwinger...Wow!! That warbeast looks like a handful!! I had never heard of Twohawks before (just now looked them up). Anyway, it is about 2.5X my budget.

Thanks
 
Recently got hold of a SPAX 16 and it's awesome stuff. 1/4" of 1095 with fantastic ACU sheath.
I will look into a Kangee/Chogan too.

In fact there are many makers here with excellent hawks within your price range. Where's Pipeman and Kentucky?
 
As you can see in many of the threads on this forum, one of the best ways to start is to get one of the standout all arounders such as, CS Trailhawk / Pipehawk / Frontier hawk or Spikehawk. All fall well within your price range and while they suffer from being common and available they are also highly usable and if you look at the sticky "Mod'ing the CS Trail Hawk" they are also a blank canvas for anyone with an imagination.

Aside from CS you also have some great custom people [some right on this forum] like Wolf Creek and Coal Creek Forges that make great users at fantastic prices. Not only are they great hawks but you end up with something made by the hand of an expert craftsman, something increasingly rare these days. As you can see I also like TwoHawks and would recommend their midweight hawk called the Longhunter, or the Woodsman (smaller) and Voyager (larger) that all fall within a few dollars of your price range.

Once you get used to one of these you can always decide to get a tactical hawk later. But if everyone was being completely honest they would tell you that most (psssst: all) end up sitting on a desk or in a box and rarely see the light of day unless you are on active duty in Afganistan or you are the guy on the SWAT Team that goes in first and breaches the doors. Don't get me wrong if you have the money they are fun and addictive to collect and play with but, if you are looking for a real woodsman tool they are mostly extra weight in your pack.

Good luck!
 
Gah I hate that kind of advice. Buy what you want and have fun with it, it's the bloody reason we are on this planet after all.
 
Like I said earlier, the "tacticool" stuff is not really for me. After Shortwinger mentioned Two Hawks, and I looked them up, I kept going back and viewing photos.

All right...I'll come clean now, I surpassed my budget. I kept looking and looking at the "Warbeast". More of a traditional looking hawk. I found one from Howes Knives with the para-cord wrap, for $185.00 otd including shipping.

Guys, I am excited about this one coming in. Thanks for all your suggestions and advice!! Shortwinger...Thanks for the info.
 
if ya gona throw it get ya eyes tested #5 i think :D
 
good call on ya find they are very good
 
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