Mod'ing The CS Trail Hawk

Drugcoder said:
Where can I get instructions on how to get started working with leather to do something like what you have?
Click to expand...

This really isn't the place to discuss that but I understand it can be very confusing here when you are new. So I will give you a few quick tips.

Look for a book called the art of hand sewing leather by Al Stohlman. Learn about the saddle stitch. Go to the Tandy leather website and watch all of their free videos. Tips on how to cut, dye, stitch and many other helpful videos. You can also look up instructional videos on youtube.

In the future, there is a forum here on bladeforums dedicated to the discussion of making sheaths. A lot of helpful people and information there. Check it out.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/820-Sheaths-amp-Such
 
Finished the stain yesterday and the leather a few minutes before midnight last night and was able to give it to my brother the minute it became his birthday. I think he's happy with it and so am I. Next mod project will be one for myself :thumbup:
imagejpg1_zpse55f19a9.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
 
Hey fellas, noob here.

Recently I ran across my CS Norse Hawk that I'd bought about 15 years ago. I had it hanging on the wall for years, but it ended up in a closet. I had customized the handle quite a bit but never was really happy with it. I decided to order a new handle and was also looking around Google at pictures of mods. That led me to this thread. Wow, ya'll have done some impressive modding :thumbup:

Unfortunately, I didn't get any before pics, but I took a couple pics of how it looks at the moment.

zzw4TD6.jpg


I used a propane torch to brown the handle. Several coats of linseed oil + a wax finish. The head was already stripped. I decided I wanted it to be a more traditional hawk, so I cut the upper point off. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out. I tried my hand at some filework. It's the first I've ever tried.
The picture above makes the blade look way rougher than it is. I guess it's a combination of being a crappy cell phone pic + the flash. Here's a better look at the blade:

C4kRU0T.jpg


A closeup of my first filework attempt:

ZZxTiE1.jpg


I live in a very rural area and have a harder time getting ahold of supplies. My youngest is out of town shopping today and I conned her into running by Radio Shack and picking me up a bottle of etchant solution. I haven't decided what I want to etch yet, but I really love the look of the ones I've seen in this thread.

Anywho, I look forward to seeing more tomahawk goodness from yall :D
 
Last edited:
Did a little more work to the head. I sanded it until the belt shredded on my sander. I was pretty much done, though. I added a top cap (I'm not sure of the proper name for it). I cut the piece from an old lawnmower blade.

RXleYTw.jpg


Did some file work on the cap and cleaned up the filework best I could on the spine.

8lHRv60.jpg


The cap isn't epoxy'd yet. I'll remove it and give it a patina with boiling vinegar later on, then epoxy it into place.

The next big thing I have planned for it is to etch a design into sides of the blade. With my wife's help, I've decided on the design. I have the ferric chloride, I just have to figure out how I'm going to mask it so I get nice edges.

I've been reading up on inlays. I would really like to put some sort of metal inaly on the sides of the handle below the head. I haven't figured out exactly how I'm going to do it yet.
 
Some Cold Steel for the kids (yeah right ;)) to monkey with when camping. The paracord whipping needs work, but I'm sure I'll get the opportunity to do some re-wraps. Mustard patina and a little GITD bling on the wife's:





 
I still have a lot of cleanup to do on it + the patina to make the etching stand out, but here's what I did today:

AEJO5bY.jpg
 
atomicjoe23 said:
I like the bear print on there!!!
Click to expand...

Thanks!

I didn't get to do much to it today. I worked a little on the patina using boiling vinegar. I ordered a bluing pen that I plan on using inside the etch to darken it. I'm thinking I"ll darken it, then steel wool to give it a nice dark tone, but not too dark. I also want to put a stainless tube in the lanyard hole. I've been looking around for something suitable and couldn't find anything. My wife said "just order one online". I was like "Ok, sure, I'll just order up a steel lanyard tube". I was being sarcastic. I then found out there is such a thing lol.
 
Did my first inlay in wood. I knew I wanted to do something on the sides of the tomahawk handle, but I didn't know what. My dad gave me a couple of really worn out buffalo nickels. I'm pretty happy with how they turned out. Sorry for the crappy cell phone pics...

Obverse:

NcAREtT.jpg


uMK16vM.jpg



Reverse:

dEDFDXf.jpg


FhwOX71.jpg


Filed some finger grooves in the handle for more grippiness.

BlaCMeu.jpg


Close up shot of the grooves I filed into the handle to frame the nickels:

Oaxq7oL.jpg


Got the snap on the sheath and made a belt loop:

Q3lPu58.jpg


I ordered some stainless lanyard tube, should be here in a few days. After that, it's pretty much finished.
 
s14sh3r, duuuuuuude - that's just awesome. I wouln't even try working with it anymore :eek:

And the other ones are awesome, too.
 
I have to hand it to you,that etched paw is simply breathtaking! Excellent and well thought out handiwork sir, very inspiring indeed. Thank you for sharing this outstanding work of functional art.
 
So I just got my CS Hawk in the mail yesterday, but the head scrapes the wood, pushes it up, and is loose. Now, I read that some people filed it down so it'll fit it properly, plus took out the screw. what tool(s) did you use to file the head? Do you make a round lip so it doesn't damage the wood? Thanks for your answers!

 
L G&M, nice stippling on the lower of the haft, did you use a Dremel tool or a drill bit? The streaks of stain and the hawk head tie in very well. Overall I'd say you've done a smart bit of work there. What process did you use to coat / protect the head sir?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top