Mod'ing The CS Trail Hawk

I finally got around to finishing my latest:

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- 24" tung oil finished haft
- Para-cord and jute twine wrapped haft
- Sanded finish on the head with mustard and vinegar patina
- Applied polished convex edge
- Smoothed and chamfered eye
 
that looks pretty cool, im about to get a TH, so i have a newbie question, what is the purpose of chamfering the eye??

good job!
 
Ok I just had to do a modified trail hawk after seeing this post.

I got to thank you guys for all the info, heres my mod
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Close up of the head
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I tried to do a mustard and vinegar patina but it didn't work out as well as I hoped. I deburred the eye and took off all the paint, sanded the haft so I got a better fit and added some lines for decoration, I'll most likely paracord wrap it later. I treated the haft with boiled linseed oil.

Thats it!!
 
that looks pretty cool, im about to get a TH, so i have a newbie question, what is the purpose of chamfering the eye??

good job!

Better eye/haft fit.

NICE work MatthewDanger :thumbup:

Thanks CitizenQ. Like you said, it promotes a better eye/haft fit but by rounding the sharp edges of the eye you also make fitting a new haft easier. The edge of the eye can tend to bind and bite into the haft like a chisel when you are trying to dry the old haft out. By rounding the edges you prevent this and save yourself a headache later.
 
Johnbar, you continue to inspire me with your innovative, yet very clean design ideas. Thanks for the good stuff! I gonna' (with your permission) swipe one or two and do a Trail Hawk(s) with a micarta/stabilized wood (maybe G10) handle. I liked the original "spike" (post #754)... but I'm now truly drawn to your latest (post #776). I know you've said you've no time to make these available to the less-experienced (rest) of us, but please reconsider your position. If there are more folks around here like me, we'd LOVE to start a project where you leave-off. If you still insist on being a mule-headed, cold-hearted, (etc.,etc.;)) so-and-so, then at least give us a more detailed recounting of your modification process. And QUIT being so dang-blamed humble & courteous. You're making abrupt, short-tempered, impatient, old Bush Hogs like me look... even worse! Thanks Again :D!
 
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Magnussen, is that the original handle? How did you get that finish?
Also, I can't tell for sure but it looks like you did some grinding on the head. Overall my favourite so far.
 
Hey guys, I have loved reading and checking out this topic. It's made me decide to buy a hawk and mod it to my liking. However, I cannot decide between the Trail Hawk and the Riflemans hawk. Will anyone with experience give me the low down on these? From all the images and videos I would presume that the Rifleman is heavier and therefore a better chopper. Can you wisened Hawk men expand on the pro's and con's please?
 
I like the trail hawk very much for throwing and it will split kindling just fine. I find the rifleman a real compromise for throwing or splitting wood. I'd go for the trail hawk.

Regards

Robin
 
ill agree with pipeman. the trail hawk is so light that you can chop and chop all day long without feeling it much. its a real treat to use
 
Opps, sorry I missed this post.
Incase you missed the other tread, Cold Steel is making a new Spiked Hawk that is better than anything I can make from a trail hawk.
Johnbar

Johnbar, you continue to inspire me with your innovative, yet very clean design ideas. Thanks for the good stuff! I gonna' (with your permission) swipe one or two and do a Trail Hawk(s) with a micarta/stabilized wood (maybe G10) handle. I liked the original "spike" (post #754)... but I'm now truly drawn to your latest (post #776). I know you've said you've no time to make these available to the less-experienced (rest) of us, but please reconsider your position. If there are more folks around here like me, we'd LOVE to start a project where you leave-off. If you still insist on being a mule-headed, cold-hearted, (etc.,etc.;)) so-and-so, then at least give us a more detailed recounting of your modification process. And QUIT being so dang-blamed humble & courteous. You're making abrupt, short-tempered, impatient, old Bush Hogs like me look... even worse! Thanks Again :D!
 
I just finished 2, and have one still in progress: a Trail Hawk and 2 Frontier Hawks (the old frontiers, not the new 2010 one). I managed to do a really sweet camo paint job on the handles of the 2 I've finished, and am really impressed with myself for how well they turn out. I'm staining the third handle Minwax Cherry and cutting it down to about 15 inches so it's like a large-ish hatchet. I know this is useless without pictures, but if I can get ahold of a digital camera before I head back down to school this weekend then I'll put up a few shots for you.
 
here are some pictures of a hawk I did minimal work on. This thread has inspired me to pick up a trail hawk to work on.

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Youv'e got a pretty good camera there.

I thought about cutting some notches in my hawk similiar to that only with curves in them but I was afraid I would mess it up.
Did you do yours with a dremel.
 
Youv'e got a pretty good camera there.

I thought about cutting some notches in my hawk similiar to that only with curves in them but I was afraid I would mess it up.
Did you do yours with a dremel.

Thanks the camera is pretty good, but I really need a tripod.

To do the notches I sat down with a round file, a drink and a movie.
 
I saw another hawk somewhere that had notches in the head and it had the dark patina down inside the notches. I thought that looked pretty good.

I just finished modding a couple CS hawks. I took a bunch of pictures along the way. I'll have to post them.
 
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