Need help choosing a tomahawk

El_Toro

El_Toro

Joined
Oct 6, 2006
Messages
837
Hi all, I've been lurking over in this forum for a few days now as I'm thinking about purchasing a new tomahawk. I'm looking for something that can do some light chopping/camp duty, and would also be light enough to pack on day hikes. I've currently have two different hawks, a Cold Steel Norse Hawk (broke the handle a year ago:D) and a ATC VTAC. I don't want another Cold Steel, as I prefer something made here in the US, and while the VTAC is a nice hawk, it seems to be designed more for combat rather than general camp utility.

So... I've narrowed it down between a Fort Turners "Trapper Tomahawk" (http://www.fortturner.com/store/index.htm) and a Bear Mountain "Rainier Scout Belt Axe" (http://www.bmtomahawks.com/store/index.html). Can anyone chip in who may have (or has previously owned) one or both of the two I mentioned? The Bear Mountain is almost double the price, but I assume that has to do more with the final fit and finishing touches. Bear Mountains replacement handles are also more expensive ($15 vs. $6), does this reflect a different type of wood used? The price doesn't matter to me that much if one is superior to the other, however if they are equal in durability, the rougher finish (and cheaper price) of the Ft. Turners sounds more attractive. Thanks in advance and I look forward to hearing your opinions!:thumbup:
 
The Rainier is a great piece. I believe they have some right now. I've got a minuteman in my shop at the moment.
 
I ended up ordering a few different hawks and a throwing knife from Fort Turner. One hawk is for me and the other two items are x-mas gifts. Can't wait to get them, I was told they would be shipped within a week. I'll be sure to throw in an update once they get here!:D:thumbup:
 
The Rainier and Rainier Scouts are on sale right now. I just posted the pricing in our forums.
 
My budget is more CS and the H&B hawks but I plan to get one of the north river Hawks by Steve Osbourne who is also a member here. They are made in the traditional manner with mild steel wrapped around a piece of harder high carbon steel. They seem very cheap for the kind of one off custom forged work you are getting. This is as close as you can get to the kind of hand forged hawks in Last of the Mohicans.

Here is an addy
http://www.north-river-custom-knives.com/custom-tomahawks.html
 
I think that you'll like your ft. turner hawks. I was really impressed with the two that I got from him.
 
Watch out for BM Tomahawks. I ordered a hawk and some other stuff from them in 3/2006 and have not received it yet. Owner S. Settle keeps on responding to my emails with promises to send it and a bunch of excuses. I have the emails to prove it. I even referred them to the sate AG. They are liars and thieves.
 
I did finally receive 2 t'hawks and a display case from BMT. The hawks look great! Looks like very nice workmanship.

The RR is polished on the blade and spike and looks awesome! The Ranier Scout seems to be a good stout belt axe. Looks like it might have been worth the wait.

I only posted the negative comments 'caused I thought I was being ripped off. Sorry BMT.
 
So your apologizing to BMT? Did you advise the Attorney General that you were not ripped off after all?
 
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