Mod'ing The CS Trail Hawk

I know this thread is talking about the Trail hawk so I hope I don't step on anyone's toes by posting this here. After seeing what people were doing with Cold Steel Hawks I decided to take a shot at it.

I used a Cold Steel Rifleman's Hawk to start with.

I Modified the head using a Craftsman belt sander then I put mustard on it to give it the look it has now.

Next, I shortened the handle to be the same length as my forearm (not sure how I chose that length but it sounded like the thing to do at the time). Then, I engraved design which I got from "The Partiot" tomahawk, with a dremel tool. Finally, I stained the handle and used a piece of leather that I bought at a local crafts store to finish the handle off.

Since I already had the tools, the total cost was about $40.

Next step is to make a sheath for it. It's been a fun project so far!
 

Attachments

  • Tomahawk.JPG
    Tomahawk.JPG
    39.7 KB · Views: 1,036
Shawn,

Very impressive work. I especially like the scroll work and leather wrapped handle.
 
ShawnRPrice said:
I know this thread is talking about the Trail hawk so I hope I don't step on anyone's toes by posting this here. After seeing what people were doing with Cold Steel Hawks I decided to take a shot at it...
Click to expand...

Nicw work Shawn! :) :thumbup: :)

Can you post a closeup picture of the head?
 
Ya! That leather is a nice touch for sure, but I really like the way the poll has been modified...similiar ti Vec's method I believe. I'd really like to see a closeup picture of that head!
 
CitizenQ said:
Ya! That leather is a nice touch for sure, but I really like the way the poll has been modified...similiar ti Vec's method I believe. I'd really like to see a closeup picture of that head!
Click to expand...

it looks like brother shawn shaved it down a bit more than my chosen way, so he has more surface area - more like an old trade hatchet, and rightly so by my sense of aesthetics.

i try to cut my polls right at that neck on the Rifleman's hawk, so it has about enough surface area to be an efficient hammer, but is more like a truncated cone.

a truncated cone, extending further out, seems to help it balance the more horizontal the swing is, vice a similar hawk with a shorter shaved poll.

cutting the poll off the trail hawks, i have noted similar disadvantages in horizontal strike planes - it just takes some getting use to.

for those who are considering cutting the polls off their only hawk, be informed it gives a hawk a similar feel to a curved khukri blade - which are fantastic IF YOU HIT THE TARGET.

alas, technique will overcome any design idiosychrasies.

:thumbup:

polled hawks usually track better than other heads of the same weight, and that's why i choose the Trail Hawk.

CGs are interesting to play with on hawks, i look forward to seeing what the future holds for hawks.

YMMV.

vec
 
a hacksaw, good-brother Q.

24 teeth per inch blade seems to be the sweet spot.

then ya need to finish the poll with a belt grinder or some serious elbow-grease.

HTH.

vec
 
I decided that I didn't like the OD green head so I wire brushed it and opted for the "natural" look. I also made a simple carrier for it consisting of a 2" inside diameter ring and a leather loop and a slip sheath. The sheath is pretty tight and will come off easily if I need it to.
 

Attachments

  • 100_3155.jpg
    100_3155.jpg
    42.2 KB · Views: 540
Ken C. said:
I decided that I didn't like the OD green head so I wire brushed it and opted for the "natural" look. I also made a simple carrier for it consisting of a 2" inside diameter ring and a leather loop and a slip sheath. The sheath is pretty tight and will come off easily if I need it to.
Click to expand...

beautiful leather work as always, brother ken.

i saw a brother do the natural finish on his hawk and then spray it with a clear coat - looked pretty darn good, and was low-care.

vec
 
Hi Q,
I guess I don't necessarily agree with the comment on not cutting off any of the top of the handle. First off, if the eye is properly shaped (and I would think that those are), it has a taper. If the wood is properly dried, it will not shrink further. The head will in fact settle a little when used hard, but in my experience this is not more than 1/4 inch. The head can be settled about as far as it will go by simply dropping the large end of the handle down on something hard with the head in place. (I am sure you know that drill). Once that is done, you can pretty safely cut the handle off to within about 1/2 inch of the top of the head. I should add a caution about setting the head on the handle. Since the handle tapers out just a little, you should chamfer the top edge strongly. This will keep the handle from chipping or splitting out when you set it down hard.
Having a lot of handle sticking out of the top can be a little dangerous as it can catch on something close to the work and cause the hawk to go somewhere you had not anticipated. (I know this from experience). Just my thoughts on the subject. Jack
 
I just wanted to follow up on vec's comments. There is no question that polled hawks and axes track better than their poll-less cousins. An axe without a poll will cut well if every lick is near perfect in form. If, however, you don't have a good grip on the handle and don't hit perfectly straight, the axe or hawk will try to twist in your hand(s) pretty vigorously. The more weight that is behind the handle, the better it will "bite". People often discuss balance in knives, however you don't hear much of that in hawk discussions. Our experience is that there are huge differences in both the feel and performance that are due to the balance of the piece. If you try several different pieces on the same task you will begin to recognize this for yourself. Without getting off the subject too much, the same is true for handle design. Would you rather have a round dowel or an axe handle mounted in a hawk. The dowel does not give you any indication which way the head is pointed. You can work through the rest. It is pretty obvious. I am a form follows function guy and realize that while there are not too many perfect tools, some of them are a lot better than others when applied to the work at hand. There are a lot of folks here that are not afraid to try new things. I think that is great. Think what we will be able to teach our children and grandchildren after a lifetime of learning.
 
thanks for backing me up on that comment, brother 'trax.

when i was in the PI last january wth the Isnag people they had a special parang with a spike out the back that makes tracking incredibly efficient for a big chopper.

we squared the front of the handle on our Gen 1 Mk 2 handles, which allows you to hold the handle very loosely, but still have micro-corrections on swings - this always seemed useful with the polled hawks, but when i chopped the poll off of my first Trail Hawk the difference was startling between a regular hickory handle and our composite stick.

the poll does more than just add a striking surface.

....yup.

vec
 
moosetrax said:
I just wanted to follow up on vec's comments. There is no question that polled hawks and axes track better than their poll-less cousins. An axe without a poll will cut well if every lick is near perfect in form. If, however, you don't have a good grip on the handle and don't hit perfectly straight, the axe or hawk will try to twist in your hand(s) pretty vigorously. The more weight that is behind the handle, the better it will "bite". People often discuss balance in knives, however you don't hear much of that in hawk discussions. Our experience is that there are huge differences in both the feel and performance that are due to the balance of the piece. If you try several different pieces on the same task you will begin to recognize this for yourself. Without getting off the subject too much, the same is true for handle design. Would you rather have a round dowel or an axe handle mounted in a hawk. The dowel does not give you any indication which way the head is pointed. You can work through the rest. It is pretty obvious. I am a form follows function guy and realize that while there are not too many perfect tools, some of them are a lot better than others when applied to the work at hand. There are a lot of folks here that are not afraid to try new things. I think that is great. Think what we will be able to teach our children and grandchildren after a lifetime of learning.
Click to expand...

Fellas, allow me to introduce you to Master Hawksmith Jack Harrill of MooseTrax Forge up in the great state of Maine!
 
since this is the mod-it paradise thread - i thought you cool cats might want to see this.

i was thinking of the possible sacrilege it could be perceived to be ...to put one of my permanent Gen 1 Mk 2 handles on one of the custom hawk makers' hawk heads, like venerable-brother mark williams (and many others here, all respected).

....so i tried to "get with the program this week" on a composite slip handle protoype run that might lead to a handle for those beauties, that is a lot tougher than wood, same contour as a wooden slip handle, with no trade-offs except maybe for the traditional appearance...:cool:....


anywayz,...

here's a shot of Composite Slip Handle Prototype 1 on a Cold Steel Trail Hawk Head. -

it is fresh out of the mold and i haven't had a chance to shine it up, but it is still very beautiful with that deep graphite pattern -

(sorry my phone was all i had handy to take pics, brethren.)

topView2.jpg


close-up of the sexy snakeskin graphite pattern.
texture.jpg


this one is way-overbuilt i reckon,

...but the weight is about the same as a wood handle of the same size it was based off of - a stock 19 incher Cold Steel Hawk Handle.

it feels much more "lively" than wood, but i am not sure yet why - it must be the materials and techniques we are trying out - dunno! - we won't know until we get a bunch made for testing - this one was a lot of fun today though, in initial tests - it won't get to full strength for a couple days.


oh! - i thought you fellow-babies might know the answer to a question...;

is this the first composite slip handle on the planet...?

i don't believe i have ever seen one before.

but i can be a dope.

:o


we're not ready to sell them yet, since they are less than 24 hours old,

but - if any buddy wants to get on the list of interested hawk-O-maniacs - please just e-mail my erica at:

ericag@equinoxcoronado.com


keep showing those mods -i'm loving 'em....


vec
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top