Modding the Cold Steel Norse Hawk.

A

Any Cal.

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Hi all,

Just a few pics to check out. I would have put it in the 'Trailhawk' thread but umm... it's not one.:D

Here is a shot of the factory stock hawk:

norsehawk800x600.jpg


After a bit of filing, sanding, boiling, grinding, and staining, I ended up with:

cleanedup800x600.jpg


Not bad, but I figured it could be considerably better. After using 4 different power tools, 1 stain, 1 glue, 1 epoxy, and 5 clamps, I ended up with this laminated handle:

newhandle800x600.jpg


There it is. Now I should be working on a sheath of some type for it, but I can't decide what I want. New handle is 22" long, rather than the 19, and doesn't stick out the top 1 1/2". Just cut a 3 1/2" spruce a couple times, and everything seems good. Unfortunately, I keep hearing this faint voice asking me to get a Trailhawk to keep this one company.:eek:

ETA: Kind of funny, but looking at the pictures, you can see it took quite a while. Look at the shadows track in the first two, and it is dusk in the last one.:)
 
looking real nice! I have been waiting for one to come in on order for 6+ weeks now so I can start to mod my own! hopefully soon!
 
Looks really nice! I like what you did with the end of the handle, great attention to detail.

You guys have me wanting a hawk now :D
 
Looks good. Let me know how your laminated handle holds up for you....
 
You did a Real Nice Job on the Norse HawK, I like the Handle work & that extra length Is gonna work out great for Chopping, Thank's for sharing the picture's,
 
So far I cut through a 3.5" frozen spruce twice, and haven't had a problem. I haven't done much else yet. I was excited about the extra handle length, thinking that it would be nice for two hands as well.

For one hand it is quite good, holding it partway up. For two hands, it doesn't seem much better, as the penetration gets to be too deep, and you waste your energy pulling the hawk out. It might be better in harder woods. I hope to do some more playing around soon, not only to test the laminate handle, but also the epoxied head. I fit the head, then epoxied it. I am unsure how that will do, but should know soon enough.
 
Sweet.

I REALLY wish that CS would make the Norse hawk with a poll like the trail hawk. It cuts so much better than anything else in thier lineup.


Here is one I pimped out a while back.
lathe2.jpg

lathe1.jpg
 
NO F-Bdy Bs said:
I REALLY wish that CS would make the Norse hawk with a poll like the trail hawk. It cuts so much better than anything else in thier lineup.


QUOTE]

I hear you. That is why I picked the Norse hawk, 4" blade and lighter weight. It was a difficult choice between that and the Trail hawk, but I figured this one could be a bit more functional. A poll on it of some sort would be nice, as long as it didn't get too heavy.

ETA, and thanks for the pics. They are a nice little hawk.
Click to expand...
 
Blue Sky said:
It looks like the head is painted, and it looks pretty good. If so, would you please tell me what you used and how it's held up?
Thanks
Click to expand...


Its rustoleum "Hammered" finish. My dad uses it around his machine shop a lot.

If you prep the head good.( I sandblasted mine) it holds REAL well. The only areas of wear are on the blade (duh)

Actually, I have used the same paint on all the CS products I have modded, including the Poll axe I did.

I would show you a picture, but photobucket is on the fritz:mad:
 
NO F-Bdy Bs said:
Sweet.

I REALLY wish that CS would make the Norse hawk with a poll like the trail hawk. It cuts so much better than anything else in thier lineup.


Here is one I pimped out a while back.
lathe2.jpg

lathe1.jpg
Click to expand...

Do all lathes look that much alike? I would swear i have worked on that exact one.
 
So far I've burnt, sanded, and used tung oil on the handle. I've stripped the head and I believe I read somewhere (can't remember where right now) about soaking the hawk head in vinegar. Has anyone done this? Thankyou all.
 
50calrev said:
...I believe I read somewhere (can't remember where right now) about soaking the hawk head in vinegar. Has anyone done this?
Click to expand...

I have. It turned the head a nice gray and exposed what I'm pretty sure are temper lines.

(Click to enlarge)
 
I soaked mine this weekend but don't have pics yet. It doesn't have a pattern like Blue Sky's.
 
Any Cal. said:
Not bad, but I figured it could be considerably better. After using 4 different power tools, 1 stain, 1 glue, 1 epoxy, and 5 clamps, I ended up with this laminated handle:

newhandle800x600.jpg
Click to expand...


Would you mind posting a howto or links to making your own laminate tomahawk haft? Google wasn't much help.
 
That's a definite maybe. The short answer is, buy some nice maple or hickory 1x4, glue it up w/ woodglue and clamp it good to sit overnight. Then use a tablesaw and a belt sander to take away what doesn't belong. I only did it because I had a piece of wood I really wanted to use that was too thin to make a handle with. It might be nice to do some contrasting colors or something. Just try to keep the glue joints lined up like wood grain should be in an axe handle.

I may do another longer one. If I do, I might try to do a tutorial on it. I don't know how it will hold up, it has been fine so far, but I have only used it a bit. I am not really expecting any problems. I hope not anyway, as the handle took me close to 5 hours to build. I am hoping the next one goes considerably quicker.
 
Any Cal.,
That description is pretty much what I'm looking for. I don't need you to post tons of photos and go step-by-step.

I've seen laminate handles that others have made for hammers. I imagine it's a similar process. I'll give it a try and see what happens.
 
Make sure you post what you end up with. The only suggestion would be to cut the top too large. On mine, the taper is heavier in the head than the taper on the handle, so even though the bottom of the head is tight, there is a slight gap on the top. I ended up epoxying it and driving the handle in w/ a heavy hammer. If you leave a bit more material on top, you wouldn't neccessarily have to epoxy it.
 
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