Mod'ing The CS Trail Hawk

Hi All,

Here are a few shots of my first Trail Hawk mod job. This ‘hawk is destined to become a regular companion on weekend hikes and overnighters.

Started off by sanding the handle with progressively finer grits, working down to a fine steel wool finish, wetting the wood between grits to raise the grain.

Once the sanding was complete, I sketched the handle designs out using a pencil, then followed up with a file. After this, I went over the filed area with my wood burning tool. I also added some scrollwork on both sides, just for kicks. The handle was then given ten coats of Lee Valley Tried & True Danish oil. I was tempted to apply a darker stain, but the contrast between the detailing and the natural wood looked pretty neat as-is. I’ll stain the next one!

For the head, I began by stripping away the existing coating. At Magnussen’s suggestion, I opted to convex the blade with a slack belt. It needed reprofiling anyway, as it arrived with an uneven grind and a miniscule micro-bevel. Once the detail work and sanding was done, I cleaned it up with acetone and dropped the whole head in a pot of boiling white vinegar to force a patina. After this, I decided to go back and add a bit of file work. I’ll need to redo the patina at some point, just to make things uniform.

The last step was to hammer the head onto the handle and tighten the set screw. Eventually, I will wrap the grip area in leather.

Et voila, the finished product!

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Definitely the first of many.

This thread was definitely inspirational. Thanks for the great ideas!

All the best,

- Mike
 
Thanks guys. High praise indeed, coming from you!

Next up is a Norse hawk, I think.

All the best,

- Mike
 
Thanx for the pix. Craftsmanship. That is what I have learned from this thread and all of BF. I also read HI forum and I am working on a khuk as well as CS Norse hawk and a trail hawk.
 
Mentor,

Did you ever wrap the grip area in leather? If so please post some pic.....

I will be ordering my hawk here soon. I love the work all of y'all have put into these. I hope my mods come out as well. :thumbup:

AFCOP82 :D
 
my first modified hawk , but not my last. I never realized how much fun one can have modifying tomahawks until seeing this thread.

1. I stripped the paint of of the head and blued it with casey gun bluer.
2.I cut out and sanded the bottom to create the thinner handle.
3.stained the haft.
4.used left over leather and sinue to create the leather wrap.
5. secured the leather with antique silver tacks and gorilla glue .

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brendog10 said:
my first modified hawk , but not my last. I never realized how much fun one can have modifying tomahawks until seeing this thread.

1. I stripped the paint of of the head and blued it with casey gun bluer.
2.I cut out and sanded the bottom to create the thinner handle.
3.stained the haft.
4.used left over leather and sinue to create the leather wrap.
5. secured the leather with antique silver tacks and gorilla glue .

DSC_0296.jpg
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DSC_0291.jpg
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Click to expand...


Looks great! I've been interested in cold bluing one for a while. Can you tell us about the process you used? I like that handle too, but I think that might thin it out too much for me.
 
Thanks . As far as the cold bluing. I stripped the paint with sand paper. I should have found a proper paint remover , but the one I bought didn't do anything to the cold steel paint . Then I used bischwood casey perma-blue paste . The bluing was surprisingly easy , all I had to do was apply the paste ,polish with a fine steel wool , and apply some rem-oil . Now as for the handle you're right it is almost to thin . I used the same style on my rifleman's hawk handle and ruined it because I made it to thin . This one I cut away a very small amount from the handle , and it was almost ruined as well . However as is the hawk settles well in my hand , but I have relatively small hands.:thumbup:
 
WOW. This Is My First Look At this Post, and also My First Look at this thread( I'm Kind of new the the forum)
I have been Modifying My CS TomaHawks for Years!!!. It Is So Fun and Nice. Cold Steel Maked Cheap Hawks, But good Superman tough Heads/blades on Hawk.

1 thing I do with the indain Hawk is take the Paint off, Sharpen it Razor sharp on Wheel/Grinder all the way to Spyderco Sharpmaker(Not trying to have it for chopping wood, But for weapon) So I make Very Sharp. And I Sand and stain the Handle always.

My Last Tomahawk I modifies was the trail Hawk, But Instead of Making it Look Like traditional Indian Tomahawk, I wanted it to be Modern Military type, So I sharpened it to shaving sharp again like always, then Used Cammo Paint and also Black to make great cammo, I used leaf to cammo Head. You Know what I mean? I held leaf then spry over it, Make it look like "real tree" cammo. Then I Make 50/50 Paracord Wet in water then did "Strider wrap" For Handle. I will Post pictures sometime.

I Just wanted to say, all Of you Guys Did Beautiful Jobs on your Tomahawks. And this thread is Inspirational in Giving New Ideas for more TomaHawk Project.

Thank you all for good work and Idea's and good Pictures.

Thank you.
 
hammerhead7050 said:
wow. This is my first look at this post, and also my first look at this thread( i'm kind of new the the forum)
i have been modifying my cs tomahawks for years!!!. It is so fun and nice. Cold steel maked cheap hawks, but good superman tough heads/blades on hawk.

1 thing i do with the indain hawk is take the paint off, sharpen it razor sharp on wheel/grinder all the way to spyderco sharpmaker(not trying to have it for chopping wood, but for weapon) so i make very sharp. And i sand and stain the handle always...
Click to expand...

we need pictures :(
 
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My first attempt at a Trailhawk mod :P

- hand sanded hawk head
- red mahogany stained handle and polyurethane coat
- suede thong wrapped handle and dangly bits

thanks to everyone in this thread for the inspiration!
 
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