OT: Hawks

Thomas Linton

Thomas Linton

Joined
Jun 16, 2003
Messages
20,206
Yvsa's post some days ago motivated me to look at the hawks at RagweedForge.

I got the Ft. Meig's single bit and British models in 4160.

What the pics on the site do not show is that Ragnar polishes all the scale off the Meigs and smooths down the British and polishes the bevel so they look much better than those pics.

And they arrive REALLY sharp.

Plus, he's the one who handles 'em, and he does a great job.
 
Coincidently, I just got the Ft. Meigs Nessmuk in 6150 carbon alloy, and can second the SHARP part. It's the first edged tool/weapon that I'm a little afraid of. Drew blood while I was polishing it for the first time.

I was also surprised a how nice it looked, having expected a basically blac head, with a polished edge.

I asked Ragnar what his involvement in the finishing process is, and here is his response:
I get the heads as rough castings from the foundry. They get rough
ground, heat treated, fine ground, mounted on handles and sharpened.
That's why it sometimes takes a while to get them out.
Click to expand...
 
It was the Hawk I almost bought that allowed me to find khukuris and the HI forum.

Tell us what it's like throwing one.

I recall someone a couple years ago was throwing khuks around. He busted one. "I don't suppose the warranty applies if you've thrown it, does it?" No, I don't think it did.

Another fellow once opined, "If you were in a fight for your life, why would you want to throw your weapon away?"

Still....Hawks... I'll probably get one some day.



munk
 
Well Duh!! I got 6150 too. (Where did I put my head?)

How does the composition of 6150 compare to say, 1095? .50 vs .95 in carbon I suppose.

I, for one, have no intention of throwing 'em.
 
If you like but can't afford the Lagana (?) Vietnam hawks, don't buy the 3 for $10 knockoffs from Cheaper Than Shirt.

First throw, I busted a handle... should've known. Luckily the other 2 were lost in the flood. Still have my CS one, though.


Ad Astra :grumpy: :(
 
Thomas Linton said:
Well Duh!! I got 6150 too. (Where did I put my head?)

How does the composition of 6150 compare to say, 1095? .50 vs .95 in carbon I suppose.

I, for one, have no intention of throwing 'em.
Click to expand...

6150 is a chromium-vanadium steel. It's closer to 5160 (which is the khukuri leaf-spring steel) than anything else. It's like 5160 with some added vanadium, which helps retard grain growth. I think it should be slightly tougher and more wear resistant than 5160.

Composition:

http://www.precision-steel.com/plate-s6150.htm
 
for as much guff as people give cold steel about their hawks, i have really enjoyed the hell out of mine. I have a trail hawk and the rifleman's hawk. Actually, the RH was my first cold steel purchase. They take a beating. I would like to get one of Ragnar's hawks sometime. I just don't have much use for one until i destroy these CS hawks. They have stood up to thousands and thousands of throws. Had I not found HI, then i'm pretty sure the Trail hawk would still be strapped to my pack.

Jake
 
Khukuri Monster said:
6150 is a chromium-vanadium steel. It's closer to 5160 (which is the khukuri leaf-spring steel) than anything else. It's like 5160 with some added vanadium, which helps retard grain growth. I think it should be slightly tougher and more wear resistant than 5160.

Composition:

http://www.precision-steel.com/plate-s6150.htm
Click to expand...
KM, I was going to say that.:rolleyes: :p ;)
Well almost, you put out more info than I would've.:D
 
double bit Nessmuk for some time. Is it a thrower or would it make a good camp/yard hatchet? The only hawk I've got is a cheapie I picked up from Atlanta Cutlery the better part of ten years ago. It looks okay but it's not much of a using axe.

Frank
 
Frank, I have no doubt that it would make a good thrower. For someone else. I bought it for using as a hatchet, and although I've only used it a couple of times (not including the time I cut myself), it's a little devil on branches. Very light, very sharp.

The haft is a leeetle small for my hand, so I may wrap it with something.
 
I'd rather have a camp axe than a thrower, anyway. When you get around to giving the little booger a real workout please post the results.

Frank
 
I bought the Octagon Hawk and the British belt axe. The weight difference between the two is really noticeable after you have been throwing them for an hour or two. You can flat put a hurt on yourself with that heavier belt axe and if you get into throwing it really hard it will put a serious hurt on your target as well. I bought the two of them awhile back for my youngest one and myself to fart around with. As my youngest one says about throwing hawks, "you know this stuff just never gets old, Dad". Ragnar was a heck of a nice guy to deal with and took the time to answer all of my questions via E-mail. He sent me an order acknowledgement e-mail and let me know that it might be a few before he could get my 5160 British axe together. Yeah right, I got it all by the end of the week. I'd have to say he is a proponent of the under promise and over deliver philophosy, works for me indeed. Like the previous posts here, my stuff showed up clean, very sharp, and nicely handled. I have since had to re-handle them a couple of times (damn teenage children :D ) and I can say he does a very nice job of it, wish I did as well.
 
Rule .308 said:
. . .
Ragnar was a heck of a nice guy to deal with and took the time to answer all of my questions via E-mail. He sent me an order acknowledgement e-mail and let me know that it might be a few before he could get my 5160 British axe together. Yeah right, I got it all by the end of the week. I'd have to say he is a proponent of the under promise and over deliver philophosy, works for me indeed. Like the previous posts here, my stuff showed up clean, very sharp, and nicely handled . . . and I can say he does a very nice job of it, wish I did as well.
Click to expand...


Ragnar is a Cantina kinda' guy. :)
 
Yeah, he really is. Doesn't seem to have a lot of interest in khuks, though. More along the lines of Nordic reenactment, methinks. Was very interested in the saex project.

But you're right: he'd fit right in here. (serve him right, too).
 
That's some pretty cool stuff there. I always enjoy a website where I browse the products and immediately lust after at least half of them. Add that to the fact that the only 'hawk I presently have is far too light for me, and these are heavier...Ragnar's going to wind up with some of my money.

Here's a question some of you can probably answer. I noticed that some of the 'hawks are listed as being 410 and 6150. How do they stack up against each other for throwing, and also for camp work? Is the 6150 worth it? I've got my eye on a few of the 'hawks but I'm itching for that Ft. Meigs Nessmuk and I notice that the 6150 version is listed as being sold out. Is this a problem?
 
Ragnar's goal is to have one of each of the 6150's ready to ship. Which seems to fall into the category of "it's nice to want things", given how busy he is. Of course, it may be that the foundry is out of stock.

Drop him a line. He always answers my questions.
 
Satori said:
Here's a question some of you can probably answer. I noticed that some of the 'hawks are listed as being 410 and 6150. How do they stack up against each other for throwing, and also for camp work? Is the 6150 worth it?
Click to expand...
Satori, wait on the 6150.
It's better suited to you.:rolleyes: :p ;) :D IMO it really is worth the extra cost in terms of taking a lot of crap throwed at it.:D
Sometime when we get back I want to order the double bitted axe in 6150 no matter if I have to wait a while.
 
Thomas Linton said:
Ragnar is a Cantina kinda' guy. :)
Click to expand...

I completely agree with you.
Recently I have ordered a whole bunch of Scandinavian knives from him. He told me one of my items will be delayed a little bit. Instead, he shipped it on the same day, together with the others.

Great guy, Ragnar, that is.
 
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