McLemore/Ridge Tomahawk # 2

D

Dwight McLemore

Joined
Aug 26, 2000
Messages
938
Hey Guys/Gals: Just got my new hawk that Tim Ridge of Swamp Fox Knives custom made for me. It is for all practical purposes a belt axe that I modified from an 18th Century design. In shape and design it resembles the Cold Stell Trail Hawk except that it has a beard on it and the hammer poll is a total square to balance the head. It is overall 18" length with a 5&3/4 " head with a 2&1/2 inch
edge. It is hand forged and wondefully balanced. I am amazed just how much hand forging takes off the weight of some of the factory turned-out ones that are on the market. You don't even know the weapon is on you side.
I've asked Tim to put a photo up on his website, but not sure if this has occured yet. As always the hawk is ruggedly simplistic in terms of design and finish. It looks like a 200 year old hawk from a local smith's forge. I'm really happy.

Best
Dwight
 
cool! what kind of head attachment does this one have Dwight?
 
Crossada: The head attachment? It has a tapered handle that expands up to the head and a set screw through the head just for a little more . It has that rugged, pitted finish that I just love on knives and hawks. Sort of like the thing has a history.

Best
Dwight
 
It's a beautiful hawk. A pride to carry indeed. Btw, what are the key distinct features that you like in this hawk over others. Thanks

God Bless
 
Kidwholaughs.......(where did you get that name from?)

what are the key distinct features that you like in this hawk over others o.k..... As I said earlier that tomahawk is
first and foremost a "TOOL" and a 'Weapon' second. That is how our colonial Longhunter brothers viewed it. They called it a belt axe because it was reasonably light enough to wag around the field and heavy enough for cutting saplings for shelter....general camp work you know. The big hammer poll is very important because it can take on a task driving stakes or nails even cracking open pecans etc. I put a beard on the head to give a little more edge to it and more purchase when drawing the axe. The set screw keeps the head in place and is easy to put on a replacement handle. Now as a weapon what I like about it is the weight. ......it is actually light enough to do some cutting flow with it. When it's swung the head does not 'Take-Over' your control as the heavier hawks do. The extended beard allows you to practice some of the hooking actions that Jim Keating talks about. Personally I don't think that hooking is a good idea....if the opponent has another tomahawk and you hook him, he also has hooked you so........so much for ever fighting someone with a hawk...today that opportunity just is not there....but if it were this little guy can do the job. I've no intention of throwing this hawk, I'll use the cold steel one for that.
Handles are cheaper. All the techniques in The Fighting Tomahawk (Lynn's and Mine) can be used with this hawk...let's suffice to say that mine is a bit quicker. I've ordered one of Ernie Emerson's
CQC-T also to give a modern slant to the video shoot this October and can't wait to see how the two compare. Here's hoping I can keep that wicked double edge back spike out of my legs and ribs.
BTW the wife and I have been discussing setting up a website devoted to Knife and Tomahawk.....As my teaching years are really very numbered and limited this might be a good opportunity to put out some training information. What do you think?

Hope I answered the mail.

All My Best
Dwight
 
Dwight McLemore said:
BTW the wife and I have been discussing setting up a website devoted to Knife and Tomahawk.....As my teaching years are really very numbered and limited this might be a good opportunity to put out some training information. What do you think?

Hope I answered the mail.

All My Best
Dwight
Click to expand...

I like it--any more information you can provide to us, I'm sure we'll all listen to.
 
Dwight McLemore said:
Kidwholaughs.......(where did you get that name from?)
Click to expand...
I can't even remember exactly where. Back when I was going to college, my friends said that I laughed alot, so I adopted the name on a whim for Bladeforum. I do plan on "upgrading" it to manwholaughs when I have kids. ;)


Dwight McLemore said:
[BTW the wife and I have been discussing setting up a website devoted to Knife and Tomahawk.....As my teaching years are really very numbered and limited this might be a good opportunity to put out some training information. What do you think?
Click to expand...

I totally agree with Return of J.D. on this one. I do believe that many people would be benefited by your knowledge and experience in this field. I and many others would be especially interested in your section on the tomahawk from two perspectives. With so much myth about their use, it is diffcult to disect out practical advice to the self inflicting injury ones. In addition, it is also my interest to understand people of the past used them. Quiet a bit of myth there I am sure. Thanks

God Bless.
 
to clarify on what i meant by head attachment i was referring to the first hawk you got from swampfox with the wedged handle. maybe i am remembering wrong though:confused: regardless i like this style better like the cold steel hawks have.

i too would like to see what you could put on a website for reference. after all you are to hawks what Keating is to bowies;)
 
Crossada: Yes ,that little Hawk that Tim made (also a period historic reproduction) does have a wedge at the head. The wedge is metal about a 1/4 inch. It seems to be holding up really well to the drills and light chopping but I don't know about heavy long term use yet. Can't really speak to that until I start getting out in
the bush again.
regardless i like this style better like the cold steel hawks have.

I've been really pleased with the knives and hawks of this style that Tim has made. Some people like a lot of glitz and polish but I love that rugged simplicity and 'feel' that these weapons give me.
As I said before you can really tell the difference between a production made hawk and a hand forged. Both these Hawks will be featured in the video along with some accessing drills using period carry. The Emerison CQC-T by American Tomahawk will be used for modern carry and the like. Mike Sastre is supposed to be working on some sheath aspects for it. I've got a custom made Pipe Tomahawk that was made by the Blacksmith at Pricketts Fort Virginia (sorry can't remember his name now) it will also be seen in the Video.

after all you are to hawks what Keating is to bowies

Brother, I really appreciate it but the truth is there are a 'hell-of-a-lot' more talented people out there than me and whose dedication far exceeds anything I will or have done. The 'Bottom-Line' for me
is to quote Billy Bob Thornton as David Crockett in The Alamo...
" If it were left up to me, old simple Davy from Tennessee, I'd slip over that wall one night and take my chances." This tomahawk and bowie foolishness sort of ambushed me and before I knew it I was having to act like I knew what I was talking about. Oh well, it made me stay in shape and do my research. More importantly I found out that some people actually believed that this ole wolf had something to offer and that just humbles-the-hell out of me. Pal, I'm nothing but a simple coach and teacher who likes what he does. That's all.

BTW. Wife and I are looking at a new computer then maybe I won't be as technologically ignorant and can post some photos.

All My Best
Dwight
 
i respect the fact that you are humble but i think the success speaks for itself:thumbup:

i know what you mean by technologically ignorant. anything besides the basic post my girlfriend does for me.:o
 
Dwight, I surely hope you and your wife start up that website. I swear I'll pay if it requires subscription (that's something I haven't even done here yet... but I'm getting around to it)!
 
FSC.

It will probably be after this video shoot in October before we get around to it. The catch is my wife wants a new computer to go with the idea. She's probably right.

Best
Dwight
 
Dwight, I've got a couple questions for you about this hawk. Does the hawk need the set-screw to stay put, or is it there "just in case"? Is the eye tapered for a "drop-in-the-top" haft like a normal tomahawk? If you don't carry a small screwdriver with you in the field, how easy would it be to replace the haft if it broke? This has been my major deterrent to buying hawks with set-screws.
 
Dwight, I've got a couple questions for you about this hawk.Oh My......pressure. Does the hawk need the set-screw to stay put, or is it there "just in case"? Is the eye tapered for a "drop-in-the-top"No not at all, it is not a really deep set screw just deep enough for stability. Yes, it drops in from the top where when it is swung gravity helps keep it more secure. haft like a normal tomahawk? If you don't carry a small screwdriver with you in the field, how easy would it be to replace the haft if it broke? I think if you broke it off you could easily knock it loose by hitting on the topThis has been my major deterrent to buying hawks with set-screws. I've got several with no set screws and they seem to hold up well too. The ones I throw don't have set screws....rationale sometimes the set screw splits or cracks on impact

Best Dwight
__________________
 
Thanks Dwight! I appreciate the quick reply! I actually placed an order with Tim today! It's a long-ish wait, but I'm sure it'll be worth it!
 
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