machete or Hawk

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preddan

Joined
Jan 2, 2007
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Say you want a breeching tool and a way to get through all the thick brush in the woods. Would you carry a Hawk and wad through a thorn bush or make do chopping and breeching with an ill-equipped machete, Finally would you just deal with the burden of carrying both. A hypothetical question; I'm not in this situation but I am interested in buying on of these; which is overall more useful on say a hunting trip.
 
Get a woodsman's pal.
 
preddan said:
Say you want a breeching tool and a way to get through all the thick brush in the woods. Would you carry a Hawk and wad through a thorn bush or make do chopping and breeching with an ill-equipped machete, Finally would you just deal with the burden of carrying both. A hypothetical question; I'm not in this situation but I am interested in buying on of these; which is overall more useful on say a hunting trip.
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Why are you concerned about having a breaching tool on a hunting trip?? Everything else you describe says "machete". You're not going to clear thick brush very well with a hawk.
 
You know I've been doing some work with the Falcata designs in preparation for the International Swordfighting and Martial Arts Convention in Detroit this July ( sorry shameless plug) and it's been quite revealing. The weapon is almost an axe and really in some aspects behaves like a tomahawk without the head projection. I've been very impressed with the weapon and now understand why the Romans were so impressed with it.

Best
Dwight.
 
For me the Kulkri strike is a little more abrupt at impact because of the more acute angle of the blade. The Falcata, big and small, don't have that sharpe an angle in relation to the handle and therefore tends to 'Feel' a little smoother at the 'pull'. It's a lot like swinging a saber or Chinese Broadsword. (Darn Dao) That's what it feels like to me. Both cut pretty good, worse comes to worse you can thrust with the Falcata somewhat (more like a punch). I can't do that with the Kulkri. I don't sit around fully analyzing this stuff scientifically. Get an Engineer for that! For me a couple hundred strikes on a pell or target pretty much gets the message across for me. I hope I've been some help and answered your question.

Best
Dwight
 
Indeed, you have! Thank you. While I'm at it, I'll also take the opportunity to say thanks again for the work you did on the Bowie and Tomahawk books--all great. (Only problem [grinning] is all those big wood chips on my back lawn . . . .)
 
There's another tool used back in the 1700's by military troops called a facine knife- sort of like a bush hook. Jason Townsend(on the web) sells them. That would work. In the deep South a machette can be handy because a lot of the underbrush is resilent, like palmettos, a swing with a machette works better than a hatchet. You have to re-bevel the edge of a machette to get it to work correctly. Also works great for chopping up thick sweet taters.
On the other hand many moons ago I had to clear out a three mile portage trail up the the James Bay area, the axe was indespensible, I couldn't have done it with a machette so the choice depends on the situation.
Has anyone ever done any scientific type work on the tomahawk in combat? I have one that I rebeveled to a 15 degree edge, not good for chopping but I think it would take off an opponent's arm easily. So will a big bowie but the tomahawk can be used to hook around a rifle/bayonette and all sorts of other uses. Just wondering.
 
Use a kukri and don't look back. :thumbup:
PS: You may spell and pronounce it however you wish ... within limits.
 
SlyOne said:
Has anyone ever done any scientific type work on the tomahawk in combat? I have one that I rebeveled to a 15 degree edge, not good for chopping but I think it would take off an opponent's arm easily. So will a big bowie but the tomahawk can be used to hook around a rifle/bayonette and all sorts of other uses. Just wondering.
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You came to the right forum. Dwight McLemore (author of a number of posts on this thread) has a book on 'hawk use, and one of the guys he consulted, Prof. Wayne van Horn, has done some work including a review of bones from archaeological digs, regarding the effects of tomahawks and war-clubs in battle. You might use the search function to find some reading here that will interest you.
 
Malaysian just carry golok or parang into forest or jungle!
They only carry axe/hatchet or beliung (i.e. traditional axe/hatchet) on specific purpose for felling big trees :)

mohd
 
How does a falcata differ from a khukuri--except as regards handle shape?
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Falcata and the Spanish Machaira are the few swords/knives that inspired the kukri profile today. You may read up on Alexander the Great's war on India and then the magic spread.
Breaching might not be the word you meant; clearing off light bushes with impact-prone tool like axe will only tire you down and little being done.
Machete simply couldn't stood up for more aggressive chopping.

My Tora Budhune has been the go-to blade for clearing up the bushes in durian orchard. The season just got over.
Light enough to clean shrubs and tough enough for chopping branches. Anything heavier Mr. Axe is coming.
 
mohd said:
Malaysian just carry golok or parang into forest or jungle!
They only carry axe/hatchet or beliung (i.e. traditional axe/hatchet) on specific purpose for felling big trees :)

mohd
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The Golok & Parang are "THE BEST" Bush Country Big Blade's ever made, There just Is'nt any other Bush Knife made that even come's close to the performance of a well made Golok or Parang,
 
Not to self-promote (it's a purpose I hadn't intended anyhow) but this ought to do both jobs nicely.

BaryonyxProtoSmall.jpg
 
FortyTwoBlades said:
Not to self-promote (it's a purpose I hadn't intended anyhow) but this ought to do both jobs nicely.

BaryonyxProtoSmall.jpg
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Shameless! lol
I'd actually be curious to try one of the bill hooks out.


To the OP,

As was mentioned early. Breaching tool on a woods trip? You trolling there first post man? Assuming you're not:
For the woods: I'd generally more highly recommend a small axe or a hatchet over a hawk. If you're doing heavy chopping on wood, go with this. If you're clearing brush, that's easy, machete.

For Breaching: A maul would be a good idea. Get a haligan bar. Look into a ram, one or two man. Breech rounds for your 12g. And maybe a Glock Model 18 for good measure once the door is open. EDIT: Don't forget to get some heavy duty bolt cutters.

God bless,
Adam
 
I plan on picking up an Estwing long-handled rock pick for breaching duty. As far as my billhook, the Baryonyx (served as the inspiration for my store name--not the other way around!) I've used my personal one to chop cross-grain through 1.5" seasoned rock maple in a single chop! :eek: Now that's some power! Now imagine what that hook would do in a breaching situation. ;):thumbup:
 
i usualy take an axe for when i get to camp and a surplus machete that i cut in half to clear away brush and spider webs on the way there. i don't notice the extra weight vert much
 
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