Mod'ing The CS Trail Hawk

As soon as I'm done with my hawk, I'll post up some pics


Great looking hawk you got there btw!
I like the file work on both the head and the handle
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Thanks. :) I hesitate to post my humble creation(s) on this exalted thread, but I figure you can't have too many hawks. If/when I have a little more financial wiggle room and can actually afford to collect some hawks I plan on trying some more artistical things, but since I plan on using this one pretty heavily I didn't do all that much. Look forward to seeing yours.
 
I have some plans for it, but so far sanding the head and the stained handle are all it has

I plan on wrapping the handle in an unconventional way though... I don't think I've seen the wrap that I plan on doing here yet
:)
 
Here's what I got so far

P1060557.jpg

P1060561.jpg

P1060570.jpg
 
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pullrich,

Thanks for the reply. I'd considered a wood burning tool, which I have in the basement somewhere but haven't used in probably 15 years, and even then it was for one job in leather. I'll give that a shot. I've got a dremel, too, but I doubt I have the best attachment for this and didn't trust my steady hand to do a good job.
 
Azn: Nice start on that Riflemans and is that an Alienware I spy in the background?

ioelus: I used a regular soldering iron, too. Slow but it works. Considered buying one with higher power but I don't do it enoug to justify. Even if dremel is unsteady, the burning part evens out the marks.
 
Thanks!
Sanding the head was much harder and took much longer than I anticipated

And you are correct, that is indeed and alienware laptop in the background
:)
 
Nice! simple, traditional and beautiful, and I like the stain on the handle. Did you take off all the black paint by sanding? :eek: I would recommend using a liquid paint stripper if you do any more of this.... saved me a lot of labor :thumbup:
 
I did take it all off by sanding because I didn't want to take the paint out of the pits and such
Perhaps if I just use a little stripper it would have sped up the process...
:P

I do plan on getting a Trail Hawk when I get the funding, and after I finish with this one
 
Can't believe I actually made it the the end of this thread! You guys have done some seriously fine work on the CS hawks! I now have to make an order myself so I can play too! Human ingenuity at it's finest!
 
Can't believe I actually made it the the end of this thread! You guys have done some seriously fine work on the CS hawks! I now have to make an order myself so I can play too! Human ingenuity at it's finest!
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Yay! Another member of the fraternity. :cool:
 
Took the Tomahawk out for a spin clearing some of the over gown bush-trees (I guess they're trees, but whatever... lol) in the yard
After convexing the edge and putting it to a strop, she bites deep!
I wasn't cutting hardwood, but even so, she was making quick work of the things I put in front of her!

There's also no real damage to the edge! Nothing that I would worry about, not bad enough for me to consider resharpening!

Definitely impressed for the $22.39 I paid!
 
Re-did the haft. Wasn't happy- am now. :cool:

ih0214.jpg






Bit of file work on the handle and a little suede lace
 
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It was a very old piece of wood. I'm pretty sure its pine of some sort. Normally not ideal for tool handles (too soft) but I've been pleased by this, I put it to some very hard chopping (slamming it into tree trunks) and the head didn't move or loosen at all. But regardless I don't plan on abusing this hawk. Should be fine for light camping type chores and as eye candy. :p I put a few coats of tung oil on it, might do a few more.
 
The grain orientation isn't as bad as it could be, but I would agree that keeping an eye on your haft as you use it would be wise
 
Good looking haft, just be careful about that grain orientation, hopefully it won't snap on you!
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Thanks guys, I'm no expert so could some one explain this to me...? I didn't think the grain orientation could be much better, personally... isn't it better for it to be running lengthwise (as it is?)
 
Figure-6-Handle-wood-grain.jpg


You want the grain to be inline (parallel) with the blade of the tool
If the grain is perpendicular with the blade, than there's a greater chance of the haft splitting along the grain when shock is applied to the handle

With that said, your haft would fall under the "fair" category
The grain isn't parallel OR perpendicular, it's somewhere in the middle, which is fine
 
TheAznInvazn said:
Figure-6-Handle-wood-grain.jpg


You want the grain to be inline (parallel) with the blade of the tool
If the grain is perpendicular with the blade, than there's a greater chance of the haft splitting along the grain when shock is applied to the handle

With that said, your haft would fall under the "fair" category
The grain isn't parallel OR perpendicular, it's somewhere in the middle, which is fine
Click to expand...

:thumbup: Good explanation and a handy reference picture, thanks! I'll let everyone know if it folds on me lol
 
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