Mod'ing The CS Trail Hawk

Here is mine. It's not a work of art, but I think it has a certain rustic charm for a hard use tool.

I stripped the head, and convexed the edge, and adjusted the handle so the bit fit higher up. Hand carved traction grooves on the bottom of the grip. Burned in stripe/camo pattern done by setting fire to a string wrap.

hawkandblade.jpg


This is my beater/expermiment handle. I have a spare I'm going to do up more neatly with an even stripe pattern more careful carving.

stump.jpg
 
After lurking & reading & looking I ordered a trench hawk and spike hawk,I'm so impressed
with all this modding here,I'm inspired and must give this a shot!
so far I stripped & sanded spike head from 60 to 150 grit I have some more to go,and
sanded & first coat of stain on haft golden pecan.for the head I'm thinking of boiling in vinegar or gun barrel brown,not sure yet.this is where I'm at with it & time so far 2.5 hr.

RATPACKKNIFEandotherRATs249.jpg


RATPACKKNIFEandotherRATs250.jpg


RATPACKKNIFEandotherRATs260.jpg


RATPACKKNIFEandotherRATs257.jpg
 
Last edited:
Looking good exidor. The only pointer I can offer is to fine yourself a good 12 step program now...this stuff is addicting!

Dan
 
Some nice hawks on this thread! This one is my oldest son's. It has a vine pattern filework on top, and a bit of vine on the handle, as well as a mask I made for him.

DSCN0078.jpg
 
I must be easily inspired. I saw this thread, geeked out and slightly improved a trail hawk, first pic below.

Then I saw the post by pullrich on etching and started working on a spike hawk. The work in progress pictures are below the trail hawk. I was surprised at how well the etching turned out. I assume that the difference in texture on the big longhorn is due to the heat treat of the steel. I then blued it twice and rubbed it with some steel wool.

Now I need to put a nice convex edge on both hawks.

Fun and quick projects.

fw60sp.jpg


4j9eeh.jpg


2ik2yox.jpg


2wbydc4.jpg
 
Those are some deep clean etches, dougelder, well done!
Would love to hear what specific techniques you used.

Also, the inside of the etch looks inked or otherwise nicely contrasted with the un-etched part.. how did you do that?
 
pullrich said:
Those are some deep clean etches, dougelder, well done!
Would love to hear what specific techniques you used.

Also, the inside of the etch looks inked or otherwise nicely contrasted with the un-etched part.. how did you do that?
Click to expand...

Pullrich--

You are to blame for my creation!

My technique was rather lazy. I slapped on some very common stickers down here in Texas to the hawk and had my son hit it with spray paint out in the back yard. After it dried, I pulled off the 4 stickers and placed the the head in a vat of Radio Shack etchant for 2 hours while out to dinner. I rinsed it and then soaked for a couple more hours while I enjoyed 2 cigars and a few cocktails. One more rinse with water and a spray down with some Rem Oil, then I went to bed.

The morning after, I sanded off all of the paint with sand paper and steel wool. The next step was to rub in some cold blue that I bought at Cabela's two times with a steel wool polish in-between and after. That was it. The etched portion was smoother than the rest of the steel, so I guess it absorbed more of the bluing.

Thanks for sharing the know how. :thumbup: The etching really makes it unique something I would have never done if I hadn't read your post.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top