Recommended Hardness/HT Method for Tomahawk

[Brett Bennett]

I'm planning my first tomahawk and would like to hear recommendations on the desired hardness for the bit/edge and the body. I'll be using some of my 1084/15N20 damascus and I'm leaning towards a spike hawk design. Also, I'd like to hear thoughts on differentially hardening vs. differentially tempering the hawk head. I'm good on the hardening process (times, temps, steps, etc.), btw.
Currently, I'm leaning towards differential tempering. I would through harden the head, temper the entire head to the bit/edge hardness and then place the edge in a sand bath while drawing the body to desired (lower) hardness. I'm thinking of a hardness of 55RC for the bit/edge and 48-50RC for the body.
Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

You are correct in going with differential temper on a fully hardened blade.

Any specific reason to have the edge and body body that soft? I would temper the entire hawk for Rc 56-58 and then draw the spike back to Rc 48-50. The main body can stay the same as the edge hardness.

In the steel mix you are using, it will be way more than tough enough at those hardness ( Unless this is a crash axe that will be chopping up cars and such)..

 

[Brett Bennett]

Thanks for the advice, Stacy. I tried to consider the worst things a hawk/axe/hatchet might encounter such as rock, bone or metal and concluded the lower hardness might be prudent. In retrospect, I don't think I gave enough consideration to the thicker geometry of a tomahawk (relative to a knife).

Brett