Rehandling a CS Vietnam Tomahawk...

SamuraiDave

SamuraiDave

Joined
Apr 6, 2001
Messages
2,632
I have one and years ago I thinned out the edge with a Bader so that it is a convex grind. However, the handle is not good for holding onto and chopping into stuff.

The design is meant for throwing, having a short smooth handle and all, but it screams to be a fighter. In a fighting situation I'm not sure you would ever want to throw away a perfectly good weapon (unless you are fleeing, or French or something).

Has anyone put a large handle, say off of a framing hammer, on one of these?

I'm thinking about pulling it off the current handle, sharpening the inside edge of the heel, reprofileing the spike, trying to smooth out the rough finish (with an angle grinder and patience?), and putting it on a straight 19' framing hammer handle that I have had of varnish and seasoning for a project.

I have been off and on this forum for a few years and haven't seen anything like it.

I'd prefer to just have a new CS spike hawk, but I have all the pieces for this one in hand and I need a new project.

What say you?
 
I don't have any experience with tomahawks. As a northern European, I tend to stick to axes. But from all the stuff I have read here and seeing as some people can make a hawk handle out of a tree limb in a few minutes, I'd say go for it. There isn't much to go wrong.
 
My step brother put an old framing hammer handle on an old cold steel norse hawk head I had. I still can't make it stick when I throw it.
 
I don't think I have ever tried to throw this. That's the whole deal. The head on this model is put on like a traditional hammer, not like that of a Tomahawk. The eye is to narrow to run a tapered shaft... although I imagine that someone could heat it up and expand things with a forge. Although looking at it there might not be enough steel around the eye once you are done with the drift.
The way it currently is easy changes of a splintered handle are out. So I avoid throwing with this one.

I more or less use it to deconstruct things and as a tool for the relief of frustration.
Just curious if anyone else has done any mods to a Vietnam Tomahawk and thoughts about the mod.

Also, anyone know a good source of California style framing hammer handles? Specifically a handle that is 18"-20" long and has about a 1'x5/8" eye?
I have a straight handle that should work, but I've always liked to have a good California style framing hammer if I went back into that line of work. I'm thinking about using one of them on this... although I haven't made up my mind yet.
 
Here is an early model of an ATC stamped head. I bought the head only and put the haft on it.
Cocobolo with ebony cap.
 

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