new to hawk forging

rocketmann

rocketmann

Joined
Dec 24, 2005
Messages
1,254
just wanted to say 'hi' I am new to this forum,and am just starting to make hawks & knives. I built my own propane forge, and a anvil out of 6ft of RR rail ( it is heavy, and is working great) I have a question concerning making hawks out of RR spikes..How do you get the hole centered in the spike ( mine came out a little off center)?? Also, were can I purchase handles??
This forum is great and I am learning alot , hope to build a better hawk in the morning!!
 
You can purchase handles from H&B Forge or Frontier....Good luck and welcome, Do a quick search on google and you'll find their website. Both make excellent Hickory handles for a cheap price.
 
thanks for the info, Just placed an oder with frontier...BTW are there many guys here forging their own hawk's or do they just customize ones that they buy??
 
Hello , I also forge hawks and knives and also use RR spikes.
I have found when drifting the eye I also sometimes make the eye slightly off center. I have heard some guys pre drill holes before they drift the eye to keep it centered, I have never tried this.
For me if the eye is a bit off centered and not too bad , i just beat it around to kinda straighten it out. If the eye is way out of shape i toss the piece in the scrap bin.
As for the handles i shape my own out of hickory using a simple spoke shave.
I think i like forging hawks the most out of everything i forge.
Let us know how the next one works.
George..............................................
 
Were do you find the hickory to work with? Is it dried or still green?? I know that it should be dried but I didn't know if you dried it your self...
Also it seems that a hawk head from a RR spike is less secure on the handle than a wrapped & forge welded hawk head due to less surface area contact..how do you compensate for this??(epoxy??) Thanks for the input:thumbup:
 
One other question, I used a cold chisel to cut the slit and a round "bull pin" to open it up. Were can I find an tool to do both at the same time and will fit a standard hawk handle???
 
Well I buy the hickory at a lumber yard and it is dried.
I cut and shave down my own handles.
I dont compensate with epoxy or anything. When I punch the eye i make it taper down so when i slide the handle in from the top and give it a tap, the head is secure. I dont have a problem with the head just falling down the handle.
I punch the eye pretty much the same way you do, not sure if there is a special tool to do it in one shot unless you make the tool your self.
Forge out a slitting chisel that tapers up into a tear drop drift, that I have seen.
 
Just my two cents here...correct me if I'm wrong. I've been throwing hawks for a while now but have yet to forge my own, though I hope to be doing so come this spring. I have several hawks from H&B and their heads slide from the bottom up to the top, not down. So the wedge is much greater and holds very well. Secondly, I believe you can purchase a Tomahawk Drift for forming the handle sleeve and it helps to put a taper into it, such as the one I mentioned. And lastly, Indians and eversince I can remember, have used soaking wet leather that is TIGHTLY stictched around the very base of the head and then allowed to dry. Once it drys the leather will have shrunk and act as a stopper for slipping. You could also use leather lace and make a turk's head knot or something similar to hide the lace neatly close to the head.

Anvilbuck, how much do you pay for the lumber and how many handles do you get out of it? You can buy them pre-made at $4 a pop but if your method of forming your own is more cost effective let us know!!
 
Strikern, the hawk heads that i make also slide from the bottom of the handle up to the top keeping them held in place very well.
YES a teardrop shaped drift can be purchased to shape the eye but I think Rocketmann was asking about a tool that made the slit and drift the eye at the same time , which I have never seen a commercialy made one(maybe there is one)?
I have also seen rawhide used to secure hawk heads (metal and stone )to handles.
As for the hickory I think the last piece was 4' long ,6" wide and 1 1/8" thick and was IIRC 8.00 $
I think i got around 12 handles out of that, maybe more.
I use a spoke shave to form my handles, awesome lil tool.
 
I always had an intrest in making knives and hawks ,but only recently ( about a week ago) did I do some thing about it..I built an anvil and a small propane forge from plans on this site.. It is'nt that hard and is a great hobby for me. I've built 2 hawks & a knife from RR spikes so far!! Not bad for one week. Most hawks that I've seen are designed so that the handle is smaller at the bottom and flared at the head and slide down thru the top of the hawk head. I am making my handles out of maul handles (hickory), I get two hawk handles from each at a cost of $4.00 . thanks for the feed back, I will try to postsome pic's as soon as the wife returns with the camera..take it easy:thumbup:
 
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