RMJ Eagle Talon 4140 Questions (scales/markings/etc)

[Dochartaigh]

Finally bought my dream tomahawk from zombieassassin on the exchange last week! An RMJ Eagle Talon from July 2017 in 4140 steel, and am trying to find out info on my exact model since it seems like they've changed a bit over the years.

YouTube videos from back then are sparse (although RMJ's newer history video on this model was great), and since most of the older images I've found are broken or super low resolution (especially on the Wayback Machine website where I can bring up RMJ's website from around 2017), it's been hard to nail down some details.

Can you tell me the proper name of these handle scales mine has? Does the pattern have a name? The website seems to show a checkered pattern from this era different from mine, and the pattern I have looks almost identical to the newer S7 "3D contoured" G10 models. The color I would call simply "Brown" (or maybe Flat Dark Earth or a darker Coyote), but the only thing I've seen it called by RMJ themselves is "Earth Brown" - but I think that was some 2-tone colorway?, which mine isn't. If mine doesn't have the normal scales from this era was it a special/limited model, or sold only by a certain retailer?

Also curious about the logo on both sides. In researching it seems like these are all over the place. I see pictures of 2016 models with it laser engraved (or scratch engraved/etched), but the "design update" notes in the 2019 model say that was changed to being milled all the way back in 2010... but I see pictures showing that's not the case - or did these change with every batch back and forth? I also know there was some clones made of the Eagle Talon, so might be the fakes which have the logo wrong per usual (but some pics are from reputable dealers so don't know what the truth is...).

For the 4140 steel mine uses, mine's one of the last made of 4140, correct? They changed to 80CRV2 sometime in early 2018 (and it's S7 now - although I can't tell if that's a regular edition or a special run).

Oh, bonus question if anybody knows: I can already tell there will be some hotspots from the G10 around the rivet holes (some quasi-sharp edges there). I've never sanded G10 before - can I safely (and briefly) sand that with ~220+ grit sandpaper (or a small mini file) and it won't change the color? If it's going to make it look bad I'll just leave it and see how it does in the field.

Here's some eye candy of mine:

sheath was painted be previous owner, might try 90%+ alcohol or googone or something to strip it

 

[shinyedges]

I had an eagle talon in 2015 (and other rmj hawks and I still have a shrike and loggerhead currently) I've used them on locks and cinder blocks and an old trailer i destroyed. I don't find the handles to hot spotty.

Something I noticed about the 4140 shrike (forged) I had, if I took my nail and plucked the tip of the spike I could make it sing like a resonating bowl. Quite cool actually.

I'd suggest calling rmj and chatting with them, they are a cool group and will shoot the breeze with you and answer questions, I chatted with them in the past.

Grats on the score and use it!

 

[Dochartaigh]

I'd suggest calling rmj and chatting with them, they are a cool group and will shoot the breeze with you and answer questions, I chatted with them in the past.

They don't have a phone number listed on their website weirdly, but I can pull it off of google - might call them.


Also found some more pics with my handle style on a (removed because sold out and old I guess) BladeHQ listing, and says 4140 steel and the same July 2017 date as mine - so I guess RMJ just didn't update their website back in 2017 with the pics of the new handle style.

Also wondering if anybody has any tips on sharpening the beard of the tomahawk? Too curved to get my flat ~1" wide stones in there, and the ceramic rods I own are way too fine of a grit to sharpen it without my arm falling off lol. I did order a pointed diamond hone (which I needed for my serrated knives anyway) which is supposed to be 280 grit - so hopefully that'll work.

 

[Riz!]

Thats a nice piece you found. I dont have much to add about the materials but, as far as sharpening it, get a spyderco sharpmaker stone. You should be able to get it in there well enough.

I have a loggerhead and its a beast. I also have a couple ATC Model 1s and they are fantastic as well.

 

[jfk1110]

They don't have a phone number listed on their website weirdly, but I can pull it off of google - might call them.


Also found some more pics with my handle style on a (removed because sold out and old I guess) BladeHQ listing, and says 4140 steel and the same July 2017 date as mine - so I guess RMJ just didn't update their website back in 2017 with the pics of the new handle style.

Also wondering if anybody has any tips on sharpening the beard of the tomahawk? Too curved to get my flat ~1" wide stones in there, and the ceramic rods I own are way too fine of a grit to sharpen it without my arm falling off lol. I did order a pointed diamond hone (which I needed for my serrated knives anyway) which is supposed to be 280 grit - so hopefully that'll work.

View attachment 3049755

Ceramic rods, .diamond rod. And YouTube..