My first hawk

[Killinumsoftly]

I just got my first hawk it's a cold steel pipe hawk and i love it, im glad i finally got one. I'm going to be using it for camping and bushcraft type stuff, no throwing. I did some slight modifying to the handle just some staining and sanded it smooth, smoothed the inside of the hawk head but it still doesn't stay tight. After a few swings copping wood it loosens up. Is this common or is there a way to seal it on there more tightly? Any info or tips would be greatly appreciated, thanks guys.

 

[B.Mauser]

Congrats, very fun and useful tool.

You removed the set screw I hope.

If you sanded the handle enough to get a good fit with no wobble it should just be a matter of tapping it on there good then using it some. I hold the handle loosely with the head resting on my hand. I put a piece of scrap leather on top. I imagine a rag or cardboard would work as well. Then I hit it with the flat side of a piece of 2x4 to get it tight. At first, as I use it, it may loosen a little requiring me to smack it a few more times but after some use it tends to settle in real well.

So beat on it and if that don't work beat on it some more.