My projects from yesterday (CS Hawks)(Lots of pictures)

[TheDandyLion]

Yesterday afternoon some new toys came in the mail! I received a Cold Steel Spike Hawk and a Cold Steel Frontier Hawk with the intent to modify (Isn't that what we all get them for?). They weren't at my house more than 5 minutes before the modding began. Here are my "before" pictures:\


The heads fit fairly well but the wood was pretty torn up, it was an easy fix with a lot of sanding. After I cleaned them up I cut them, the Frontier hawk to 16" and the Spike to 19". After cutting I went with a dark stain on both:

Next step was to strip the heads. On my other CS hawk I had sanded the finish off so I was supervised how difficult it was to strip chemically but I got the job done.

I didn't take a picture of the sharpening process but it took a while, I brought them to barely shaving sharp and brought the edge back, keeping the V grind but a bit more shallow one. Close up of the edge on the Frontier hawk:

(Continued)

 

[TheDandyLion]

Here'the finished result:

Went with an OD para-cord wrap on both, more of a grip on the Frontier but an over-strike guard on the Spike Hawk. I think both turned out really well so here's some more pictures for your viewing pleasure:


Family shot with they're older brother, a heavily modified pipe hawk rocking a 22" haft (Small medium and large anyone?)


Well what do you guys think of my modest collection of CS hawks? Which one should be next? Any more mods you would do?

Thanks for looking,

-Jake

 

[AaronGP]

What, if anything, did you treat the steel with after you had stripped it?

– Aaron

 

[TheDandyLion]

That's just how it looked after stripping, was sort of choked about how dark it was

 

[leebrewer]

Hawks sure are looking good. Good edges, ready for all types of work or play. You should add their cousin the Trail Hawk to your collection. It's a great hawk

 

[TheDandyLion]

Hawks sure are looking good. Good edges, ready for all types of work or play. You should add their cousin the Trail Hawk to your collection. It's a great hawk

I like the look of the trail hawk but the edge is a little bit narrow, I might own one at some point but its not exactly on my "short-list"

 

[Wolf_1989]

I don't like the Trail Hawk. Way too tiny.

 

[TheDandyLion]

I don't like the Trail Hawk. Way too tiny.

You'd surprised, it's only 16" but it chops like a demon and is really easy to carry compared to any other of the 'hawks. I was worried about the size as well but It really does preform

 

[Wolf_1989]

You'd surprised, it's only 16" but it chops like a demon and is really easy to carry compared to any other of the 'hawks. I was worried about the size as well but It really does preform

No, I'm not surprised. I bought one of those things a couple years ago.

I tried to like it, but I didn't. TINY. It doesn't chop well. It doesn't throw well. Hammer poll is so small it's nearly useless. Light and quick, sure, but that's the only good things about it. It's like the hammer poll version of the Vietnam Hobbit Hawk. Way too little to be of much use for me.

Putting a longer haft on it didn't help.

 

[Douglas Thor]

I just ordered the frontier hawk yesterday. It'll be here thursday august 7th.
First thing im going to do it strip the head, then sand, stain, and seal the handle.
Im leaving mine at full length 22" since it'll be the only hawk i have so far, and need a long one.
Might get a spike hawk in a few months, and then shorten the frontier then.

Im excited to get this thing. I have some many things on my property that need chopping...