opinions on Coldsteel Trail Hawk

I skipped on the CTD $10 multi-thing and got my Rifleman's Hawk just in time to go camping Thursday. Spent a good half hour with a mill file and a diamond stone to put an actual edge on it... there was only a primary bevel on one side, lol. But once I got an edge in it, I used it to drive stakes & chop up firewood all weekend long. The hammer poll is about as tall, but not quite as wide as a regular framing hammer. Worked great driving tent stakes; in fact I drove one into a root and by the time I realized it I couldn't get it out. Did very well chopping wood too; stayed good and sharp, easy to swing, plenty of power. I did touch up the edge a couple times, those birch knots are pretty tough. The steel held up well though, no chips or cracks, just minor dulling.

At first I thought I wouldn't like the contour of the handle, it's a bit sharp on the front where your fingers lie across. But I soon found it was quite comfortable and I think it helps "aim" the tool. The head lines up nicely on the shaft. In fact, I found the RH to be more accurate on first using it then the TrailMaster bowie I got a few weeks ago. The balance is good; the hawk feels powerful but not too heavy. Even my girlfriend said she was comfortable using it.

The finish on the head is hideous; I'm going to take another poster's suggestion and zip-strip it off. Haven't decided yet how to customize the handle :) I'm not convinced I'm going to secure the handle either... it didn't feel sloppy in use at all. In fact the head is making itself into a nice groove in the handle. And it's handy to be able to take it apart for packing... anyone have any thoughts on this?

All in all, a big thumbs-up for the Rifleman's as a good handy camp/woods axe. Worth every cent of the $30 I paid for it :) I almost hate to admit it, since I like big bowies so much, but a hawk like this and a good belt knife kind of make my TrailMaster redundant.
 
I find the sgharp front edge on the handle to be uncomfortable for chopping but great for throwing . As you said it helps to aim it .
 
Kevin the grey said:
I find the sgharp front edge on the handle to be uncomfortable for chopping but great for throwing . As you said it helps to aim it .
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I suppose it differs with different people's hands. I didn't throw it yet but it didn't bother me at all chopping. Something I didn't even think of till after I was home, is that there's no shock or rattle coming up the handle. Even when I hit a glancing blow or smacked a hard knot. I don't know if that's because of the handle's shape or not, but I like it and that contour is probably the only thing on the 'hawk that I won't change.

PS I forgot to mention that I ordered a Gerber diamond stone with the 'hawk. It's about 3x1x1/4", quite coarse on one side and kind of a fine medium on the other. It definitely works, and although the fine side isn't quite as fine as I'd like for a hunting or kitchen knife, it's perfectly servicable. I used it to profile my RH and it would shave, barely. Plenty good for cutting up food or firewood though. It came with a black nylon velcro-close belt pouch, and I found a magnesium/ferro flint block fits in there with it perfectly, they don't even rattle together. I think it will end up on the sheath of my belt knife. Anyway I thought it was a good buy at $3.50. http://www.bladematrix.tv/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=29566
 
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