A year ago I finally bought my first tomahawk. I thought it would make a nice camping/hiking companion and I've always wanted to learn how to throw them. Since then I've bought a dozen and in the process did learn some things about some tomahawks and tomahawk makers. One year did not make me an expert and I don't mean to represent myself as such. For what it's worth, I'll share a little of what I learned about Cold Steel trailhawks, H&B forge, Fort Turner and Bear Mountain products.
I bought 2 CS trailhawks first [$25/ea]. Liked them for swinging around, getting a feel for weilding the tool, not bad for throwing but until I started sticking the hawk consistently, I was constantly put the head and handle back together. It was when I hit one[already stuck in the target] with the other that I learned that the trailhawk wasn't sturdy enough for my purposes. After further testing it became clear that I did not have to ask much of them as choppers to exceed their limitations. :thumbdn: I retired them without a second thought and upped the ante by buying $40-50 hand forged tomahwks. And really that's where my story ends because you don't really need to spend more to obtain the standard of quality in a traditionally made hawk. The forging marks: pits, hammer imprints, bubbles, and minor welding imperfections on every hawk I purchased are typical and I don't consider them defects. These are tough well made tools and will last a lifetime. Here are my impressions of the three forges I've dealt with:
H&B Forge :thumbup: My wife and I visited Will and Mary Barber on the occassions I purchased hawks [Shawnee, Large and Medium camp axes, extra handles and some accessories]. Besides being downright good people, the Barbers are fair, honest and reliable. The only drawback is that they don't accept credit cards. Actually, if you email or call them, you'll be amazed at how easy they make buying from them. As for the tomahawks, my Shawnee hawk is simply the best example of the forging craft that I own, no visible welding gaps, a very expertly drawn blade with a nice pattern of hammer marks. The original handle has never separated from the head despite lots of throwing. The large and medium camp axes are well made but don't get much use because the large is too big and the medium too small for my needs. I may ask Will Barber to make me an axe of my size and design. It's a pleasure dealing with H&B
Fort Turner :thumbup: Excellent and usually very fast service from Dana Turner. The hawks I use and throw the most are the Camp tomahawks. I've purchased 4 of them and one Buck tomahawk. I happen to like the slightly smaller handle now, although I didn't at first. The Camphawk is the right size for my body to throw. I can throw over and over without wearing myself out. It is still large enough to be a useful chopper around the camp. In spite of the relatively thin blade it is a stout hatchet. One stays in my camping kit. One in my truck too. You won't bend or break it. I believe Fort Turner hawks have the best heat treatment as they hold up to being hit by another hawk or hitting a rock when chopping kindling for example. I'll probably buy more hawks from Dana even though I don't need any.
Bear Mountain I received a light infantry model as gift last Christmas. I didn't like the head design or the head to handle fit. Bear Mountain let me trade it in for a Rainier belt axe. I waited quite awhile for the Rainier to finally arrive :thumbdn: but have been happy with the axe. :thumbup: The finish on these hawks sets them apart. Neither FT or HB products have the extra polishing found on BM hawks. It also came with a useful leather blade cover. Frankly, the Rainier is my favorite design. For as much as the head weighs, it feels fairly light in the hand. It's a great chopper though I think the edge is a trifle soft. No problem though as I am committed to keeping edges sharp and it takes an edge easily. This is the tool I tuck in my belt behind me when my wife and I walk in the woods about 4-5 days a week. About once every month there is some fallen branch or tree I can't just pull off the trail with cutting into smaller pieces. I don't generally throw it because it's bit heavy for my old shoulders, but it is a good sticker. It's pretty. It's a great little axe and my regular hiking companion. Yet a question I'm still asking myself is whether I would have spent over three times the cost of a FT or HB hawk [$50] in order to own the Rainier [$165]?
Most of the tomahawks involved were used by both my son and I. He is a forest ecologist and spends most of his time outdoors. I also love the outdoors and spend alot of time in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan living fairly primatively. We regularly use the tomahawks in the hatchet role. I throw about 3 or 4 days a week for as little as a few minutes and as long as half an hour or more if my son is visiting. Not to brag but sticking a single rotation throw is easy now. 90-95% consistency I am perhaps within a foot of the bullseye 70-80% of the time...in the bull once or twice out of ten. Long way to go. I can do double rotation throws but accuracy goes out the window and sometimes I miss the whole target. I have also found some success with my left hand but not with the power and accuracy of the right. It's been a great year growing in to one of my latest hobbies. I've appreciated the help I've found on this forum through my reading. Alot of what I've learned was here, in fact. The rest came from doing. The best teacher.
If you read this far, I hope you found something worthwhile.
I bought 2 CS trailhawks first [$25/ea]. Liked them for swinging around, getting a feel for weilding the tool, not bad for throwing but until I started sticking the hawk consistently, I was constantly put the head and handle back together. It was when I hit one[already stuck in the target] with the other that I learned that the trailhawk wasn't sturdy enough for my purposes. After further testing it became clear that I did not have to ask much of them as choppers to exceed their limitations. :thumbdn: I retired them without a second thought and upped the ante by buying $40-50 hand forged tomahwks. And really that's where my story ends because you don't really need to spend more to obtain the standard of quality in a traditionally made hawk. The forging marks: pits, hammer imprints, bubbles, and minor welding imperfections on every hawk I purchased are typical and I don't consider them defects. These are tough well made tools and will last a lifetime. Here are my impressions of the three forges I've dealt with:
H&B Forge :thumbup: My wife and I visited Will and Mary Barber on the occassions I purchased hawks [Shawnee, Large and Medium camp axes, extra handles and some accessories]. Besides being downright good people, the Barbers are fair, honest and reliable. The only drawback is that they don't accept credit cards. Actually, if you email or call them, you'll be amazed at how easy they make buying from them. As for the tomahawks, my Shawnee hawk is simply the best example of the forging craft that I own, no visible welding gaps, a very expertly drawn blade with a nice pattern of hammer marks. The original handle has never separated from the head despite lots of throwing. The large and medium camp axes are well made but don't get much use because the large is too big and the medium too small for my needs. I may ask Will Barber to make me an axe of my size and design. It's a pleasure dealing with H&B
Fort Turner :thumbup: Excellent and usually very fast service from Dana Turner. The hawks I use and throw the most are the Camp tomahawks. I've purchased 4 of them and one Buck tomahawk. I happen to like the slightly smaller handle now, although I didn't at first. The Camphawk is the right size for my body to throw. I can throw over and over without wearing myself out. It is still large enough to be a useful chopper around the camp. In spite of the relatively thin blade it is a stout hatchet. One stays in my camping kit. One in my truck too. You won't bend or break it. I believe Fort Turner hawks have the best heat treatment as they hold up to being hit by another hawk or hitting a rock when chopping kindling for example. I'll probably buy more hawks from Dana even though I don't need any.
Bear Mountain I received a light infantry model as gift last Christmas. I didn't like the head design or the head to handle fit. Bear Mountain let me trade it in for a Rainier belt axe. I waited quite awhile for the Rainier to finally arrive :thumbdn: but have been happy with the axe. :thumbup: The finish on these hawks sets them apart. Neither FT or HB products have the extra polishing found on BM hawks. It also came with a useful leather blade cover. Frankly, the Rainier is my favorite design. For as much as the head weighs, it feels fairly light in the hand. It's a great chopper though I think the edge is a trifle soft. No problem though as I am committed to keeping edges sharp and it takes an edge easily. This is the tool I tuck in my belt behind me when my wife and I walk in the woods about 4-5 days a week. About once every month there is some fallen branch or tree I can't just pull off the trail with cutting into smaller pieces. I don't generally throw it because it's bit heavy for my old shoulders, but it is a good sticker. It's pretty. It's a great little axe and my regular hiking companion. Yet a question I'm still asking myself is whether I would have spent over three times the cost of a FT or HB hawk [$50] in order to own the Rainier [$165]?
Most of the tomahawks involved were used by both my son and I. He is a forest ecologist and spends most of his time outdoors. I also love the outdoors and spend alot of time in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan living fairly primatively. We regularly use the tomahawks in the hatchet role. I throw about 3 or 4 days a week for as little as a few minutes and as long as half an hour or more if my son is visiting. Not to brag but sticking a single rotation throw is easy now. 90-95% consistency I am perhaps within a foot of the bullseye 70-80% of the time...in the bull once or twice out of ten. Long way to go. I can do double rotation throws but accuracy goes out the window and sometimes I miss the whole target. I have also found some success with my left hand but not with the power and accuracy of the right. It's been a great year growing in to one of my latest hobbies. I've appreciated the help I've found on this forum through my reading. Alot of what I've learned was here, in fact. The rest came from doing. The best teacher.
If you read this far, I hope you found something worthwhile.
