My First Hawk Designs

[Big Chris]

Tell me what you think about these. I wanted something a little tactical, and something a little practical.
I have some .265" S7 that these will be made from.

 

[pullrich]

I vote for the one on the left.

 

[JParisi48]

I like the one on the left too, both look good, How wide are they going to be? I think the one on the right should have some width to the back to use as a hammer of sorts.

 

[Big Chris]

My plan is to make both. The one on the left is that tactical version. The right one would be a general hatchet. I left the poll area long and flat for use as a hammer.
They are drawn at half scale. I did not know if the bit was too long at four inches. It may be one of those situations where I am not sure till I have a full size version in hand.
The widths are in the sketch, 6.5" from bit to spike on the left and 5" from bit to poll on the right.

 

[Hesparus]

Is there a function for the bevel on the top of the spike, or is it just for show?

- Chris

 

[Big Chris]

Is there a function for the bevel on the top of the spike, or is it just for show?

- Chris

It is to slightly sharpen to a triangle cross section. No function other than that.

 

[Mossyhorn]

I don't think at .265 thick the poll on the practical model would be real effective. It may be just better to make it without a pronounced poll.

 

[Hesparus]

If you move that bevel to the underside of the spike, it will act like a canopener and the spike should be a little less likely to get stuck in things.

- Chris

 

[shockjockey24]

Only thing I would add is a lanyard hole...and make sure you spray paint the spike hawk black and jack up the price 100%... for tacticalness

 

[Big Chris]

If you move that bevel to the underside of the spike, it will act like a canopener and the spike should be a little less likely to get stuck in things.

- Chris

I will take that into consideration. This is why I asked, to get these kind of tips.
mossyhorn, I also wondered if it would be worth the extra material back there.

Thanks

 

[setlab]

I like the one on the left, though I would turn that spike into a hammer head shape. If I were out in the woods I would see myself useing the hammer portion vs. the spike.

 

[Camber]

For whatever it's worth, I would put more of a beard on the woods version as well. I would make the beard on the tactical one come to a sharper point, and then apply a beard similar to the tactical one (but with more of a tanto point) to the woods one. That way you could drive the beard into the side of a stump and use have a stationary blade to use for making shavings, etc by moving the wood around the edge. I saw Turley do something similar and it seems like it could be really helpful if only one hand was working for some reason.

Also, with beard you can choke up on the neck more and get your hand right behind the cutting edge for using it more as a knife.

Plus, I just think that's going to be a lot of weight forward on a hatchet that length, and may leave it quite unbalanced sine there's not much of a pole. Speaking of the pole...I would keep a pole of some sort, so you have a dedicated impact point. Could be helpful for striking through ice, etc, and plus I think it just makes it more aesthetically pleasing.